Ordinary Fuel

Romans 6:1-5

"What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?  Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.  For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his."

Today we’re looking at the church, and the outward means of grace: the Word, sacraments, and prayer.

 

As we prepare to confess our sins, let us remember this.  We tend to rely on emotions or on opinions, to fuel our spiritual growth.  But God points us to ordinary things that we often find rather boring.  Read His book.  Go to church.  Take the Lord’s Supper.  Pray with God’s people.  This is where God usually works.

 

It’s like a rocket launching into space.  There will be spectacular visual moments when one section detaches from the rest, or when it arrives at the space station.  But it took a whole lot of fuel burning constantly to get to those points.  Like the 5 wise bridesmaids, who prepared to have enough oil to keep their lamps burning, keep those ordinary things going.

 

So don’t despise the ordinary things.  See God at work every time we stand and read His word, or pour a little water on a covenant child of His.  He is feeding our souls.

 

This reminds us of our need to confess our sins.

8/28/22