As I write this devotional, one of the main topics of interest is the weather.  How cold was it??  Well, this morning at 3:00a.m. it was -30 at our house.  Warmed all the way up to -20 when I left home for the office.  Someone mentioned that things were pretty stiff and hard to get going this morning.  Cold does that.  Got to thinking, that's a lot like us in our spiritual lives.  Sometimes we "get cold," and then it's hard to "get going" and be about the things we do as Christians:  study scriptures and pray, help others, work for peace and justice, visit the sick, etc...

 

So, how is it that we get so cold??  Well, at the risk of being repetitive, I'll share the story of Luther when he was a new priest being told he should visit an "inactive" member.  Luther arrived at the man's house and was ushered inside; they both knew why Luther was there, though not a word was spoken.  Luther and the man sat by the fireplace and watched the fire burn.  After awhile Luther stood up, moved to the fire and with a tongs removed a burning ember and set it on the hearth.  He returned to his chair and watched the ember procede to cease burning, glowing and eventually become cold and lifeless.  Without a word Luther got up and left.  The man returned to worship the next Sunday.

 

Now, I don't know whether or not the story is true and I wish all inactive calls were so easy.  But I do know that when we start "missing worship" it becomes easier and easier not to go and our spiritual lives suffer in the process.  Our souls need the food and warmth that only regular worship with our brothers and sisters can provide.  Our priorities and ministry ambitions change without regular reminders of who and whose we are and what we are to be about doing with our lives and blessings. 

 

We cannot "go it alone;" we were created to be in community, to be in relationship with God and with other Christians.  Baptism brings us into family and family needs to get together to remain strong and effective.

 

Don't let your spiritual life grow cold and stiff;  join us for worship often.  We miss you when you're not here and whether or not you realize it, you miss us too. 

 

Peace, 

 

Pastor Carol