Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
Martin Luther King Jr. 

We have a finite time on this earth. What we do with that time matters. Does your faith as a Christian matter? Can we really make a difference? How do we make a difference? 

We have all endured times where our well is dry. We have dipped into it one too many times without taking the time to refill or tap into a source that would fill it for us. Have we forgotten our source of living waters? “Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink!” John 7:37-38 (NLT)

Right about now, many of us are in that dry, arid place. We are going on 100 days of COVID-19 disrupting the cadence of life. We have lost loved ones, special occasions have been postponed/cancelled, we miss our social connections, some have lost jobs, and some are living with reduced wages – just to name a few.  We have lost the ability to meet and congregate as the church in the way we always knew it. Every time we turn on the news it is more bad news piled onto bad news. Have we lost some faith? 

Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians, chapter 3, that everything happening is for our sake. Words hard to understand when our heart and mind are covered by the burdens of the world, but when we turn to the Lord the veil is removed. We become transformed in His image for His glory. Praise God! 

“So we do not lose heart. Even though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed day by day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure.”
2 Corinthians 4:16-17 (NRSV)

It is quite easy to lose faith in the world. The world will always glorify all that is wrong, but our faith must stay strong. Jesus said we are not to be of the world but are “chosen to live a life of faith” in God for the benefit of this world; so that just maybe we shine some light in the darkness; so that we stand in the gap for others to reach the other side; and so that hope reflects a chance to make it another day.

^“If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you.”
John 15:19 (NRSV)

Peter exhorts us to abstain from the world as an example to others. Our conduct and our willingness to stand for good and speak to others about what really matters. “Love your God” and “Love your neighbor” are what all the other commandments hang on and getting these two right is all that really matters. Have you ever given that much thought? These are simple instructions yet difficult to live out in this fallen world. 

^“Beloved, I urge you as aliens and exiles to abstain from the desires of the flesh that wage war against the soul. Conduct yourselves honorably among the Gentiles, so that, though they malign you as evildoers, they may see your honorable deeds and glorify God when he comes to judge.”
1 Peter 2:11-12 (NRSV) 

So how do I live in this world if I am not to be of the world as Paul shared?

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.”
Romans 12:2 (NRSV) 

We start by focusing on things that really matter: our faith and love for God, our love for our neighbor, and our hope in the life to come.  

As a vital source of assurance, we must stay connected to God, no matter what. In the great prayer for his people (John chapter 17) Jesus petitions God on behalf of his disciples (that includes us) for protection from the world and its evils. He knows the life of a disciple will not be an easy journey. He believes we matter.

^“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.”
John 17: 14-16 (NRSV)

I want all this isolation to end immediately and for us to go back to congregating as a church. This matters to me and I really believe God wants the same for us. Yet we must not define ourselves merely by our Sunday worship services in our building. Lest we forget the church is not defined by a building but as a people of God whether scattered or gathered. Do you know what really matters to Jesus more than meeting as a church? 

Jesus still sees hope for this world, but he is counting on us to be his voice, his feet, and his hands. Recall from the story of Luke 8, where the demon- possessed man is healed (remember the poor pigs running off the cliff). The newfound man wanted to remain with Jesus, but Jesus told him “go tell someone” about what God has been done for you.

“Return to your home and declare how much God has done for you.” So, he went away, proclaiming throughout the city how much Jesus had done for him.”
Luke 8:39 (NRSV)

This past week I saw several AUMCers loading up milk, cereal, and other bags of nutritious food in their cars to make deliveries to Saturday’s Child families. A few weeks back one dear AUMCer made the trip alone that Saturday. Not only was she handing out bags full of groceries, in addition she had HEB gift cards donated through our partnership with HAAM. She brought a double blessing that day to the families. Did it matter to these families? Did it matter to our AUMCer’s?

As a covenant partner of HAAM we have undertaken the task of collecting food for an important food drive. 2000 pounds of food is our goal. Will we reach it? Only if we believe it really matters.

The week of July 12^th – 19^th we will be hosting a special family of five who is enrolled in the Family Promise program. They are putting their learning into action and striving to succeed so that one day they have a place of their own. Sleeping in a safe church rather than a car matters. They are trusting God to take care of them. They are grateful for the support of the covenant church partners. They are hoping and trusting that AUMC believes that they matter.

We first learn to serve then we are transformed in Christ to stand in solidarity for those on the margins. We begin to relate to and genuinely love our neighbor. We soon realize we are not much different but for the grace of God. That is what matters to Jesus!

The words you choose, the energy in the words and how you use them and finally the action from which your words spring forth tell Christ’s story of redeeming grace for all.

If we choose to be silent on things that matter, we actually have already spoken.

What good has God done in your life? What matters to you? 

Do all the good you can, By all the means you can, In all the ways you can, In all the places you can, At all the times you can, To all the people you can, As long as ever you can.
Wesley Rule

Peace be with you,

Kenny Shortsleeve, Lay Leader