Church newsletter pastoral column for St. Peter Lutheran Church, Greene, Iowa, for September, 2018.
Growing in Faith
Give attention to the public reading of scripture, to exhorting, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift that is in you…Put these things into practice, devote yourself to them, so that all may see your progress.
– 2 Timothy 4:13-15
If you happened to drive by the back of the parsonage this summer, you may have noticed I’ve started a new hobby. I have the furthest thing from a green thumb, but I have done a great job at growing potted weed. Oh, I didn’t intend to grow a weed. I intended to grow a bell pepper plant. Unfortunately, a rabbit had other ideas, and the pepper plant didn’t survive its first weekend. The weed, however, has thrived. All I’ve done is ignore it, and it’s reached about six feet tall.
That’s not my only gardening accomplishment this year. In the front planter by the door, we planted some flowers this spring. They started out growing well. We watered them regularly and pulled out any weeds popping up around them.
Sadly, as the summer wore on, the watering became less frequent. During our week of vacation, then the week of VBS, and then the week of the Chicago mission trip, our poor flowers were sorely neglected. Now, at the end of the summer, there’s just not much left of them.
It turns out flowers grow better if you pay attention to them and regularly give them the care they need. The weed, however, seems to thrive on neglect. There are some similarities here to our life of faith. As Christians, we are called to grow and produce good fruit.Galatians 5:22-23 tells us, “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.”
Those spiritual fruits take some tending. Growing in faith doesn’t happen by accident. In fact, as sinful human beings, we’re more likely to produce weeds if we’re not intentional. How are you growing in faith?Are you ignoring your garden, or tending it?
Maybe, like me, you’ve neglected your garden a little this summer. If so, here are two words of encouragement for you. First, and most importantly, you’re not the only one involved in growing faith; God is central to this process—and God doesn’t forget about watering you. All of our growth comes through the Holy Spirit. Second, fall is a great time to get back on track, and the church is here to help!
Christian faith is grown and nurtured in three key ways: Prayer, Worship, and Scripture. So, as you leave summer behind and move into your fall routine, I encourage you to make all three of those a priority. Find the time to talk to God in prayer—and to listen for God’s response. Make worship a priority—faith is best grown in community. Seek out opportunities to study God’s word in the Bible—I’m working on some upcoming adult studies at church this fall.
Unlike my poor plants, it’s never too late to grow—and God is a much more faithful gardener than any of us! May God bless you with spiritual growth this fall.
Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Daniel Flucke