The summer months have gone by faster than Ryan Nueman’s #12 Ford back in his glory days! And not only did it go by quickly but if many of us utilized the freedom of summer to travel and get out there with the family and enjoy God’s creation! But of course, with school, sports, and other extra activities and groups starting back up, the next few months will remain quite busy and fast paced.
But the saving grace is that, with a more structured and consistent schedule, we are all around and are better able to focus more on our time together in worship, study, and fellowship! This is so important because we are often overscheduled and rushing from one thing to another. And even though we enjoy every extra activity and event and group we are involved in and appreciate the benefits they give us, still we need to admit that not everything we fill our time and schedules fills us up in return.
Much like cars, if we don’t regularly fill up the tanks of our mind, body, and soul with the correct gas, then we are bound to run dry and break down. Have you ever put diesel fuel in your sports car or unleaded fuel in a semi-truck? It doesn’t work well and eventually does some real costly damage to the engine.
Our bodies, minds, and souls operate in the same way and need to be filled with the proper fuel. As we’re reminded in Scripture: “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Duet 8:3 & Matt 4:4)
This is why I am always hounding and encouraging us all to regular worship attendance, because in the Divine Service we are filled with God’s life-giving Word and Sacraments. It’s then that we are weekly “fueled up” and sent out for the following week. But life is often difficult and tiresome, and we tend to quickly burn through our fuel.
So, I’m hoping to start providing several “mid-week refueling pit-stop” opportunities for us to press the brakes, refuel the tank, change the tires, and check the engine. Sure, it’s going to be inconvenient and take up more time out of our already overly-scheduled week, and yes, we will have to miss out on other things that are more entertaining and enjoyable, but what we will gain from it will far outweigh any amount of inconvenience faced and fun missed. The race of faith is difficult and long, but thanks be to God that He provides what we need to be refueled and keep going: forgiveness of sins through His Word; restoration and strength through the Sacraments; community and support through the fellowship of the Church! “So let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another.” (Heb. 10:24-25)
In His Service,
Pastor Noble