FPC Families and Friends,

               This may be turning into a Thursday trend… my hope to encourage us all while the world swirls around us. I’ve spent a lot of time this week meditating on what’s going on in our country and how I feel about it. I imagine you might be doing the same! I’ve also been praying about what to do about it and how to continue my ministry in an authentic way.

               First, thank you to all of you who are praying for our church leaders and who have checked in with me. The reality is that we’re not carrying much extra weight than everyone else. I’m finding myself spending lots of extra time on my sermon preparation right now. Am I staying faithful to the gospel? Am I delivering an equal portion of encouragement and call to accountability? My call is to be faithful to what God is trying to say to the best of my ability. Sometimes that is a message that none of us want to hear, and all of us need to hear. I’m continuing to ask God to give me what I’m meant to preach and to help me listen carefully. I hope and pray that acknowledging my vulnerability and struggle will help each of you who might be in a similar situation.

               It’s been a hard week, especially watching USAID program shut down and our personal data captured by people who don’t have security clearance or legitimate access. One by one our systems are being taken over, systems that help and support our citizens, our country, and our world. A friend who is a government worker has described emails she has gotten almost daily, designed to make her think she is worthless as a part of the federal government, encouraging her to jump ship and take a settlement package. I’ve been musing on hypocrisy, on the role of those who have blessings to share with those who don’t, on how to strengthen my faith in God when the world is shifting under my feet.

               My musings took me to a fraction of a Scripture verse – “to whom much is given, much is expected,” and when I found it, I found Luke 12. Last week I suggested that you read the book of Esther. This week, I suggest you turn your attention to Luke 12. It was God’s nudge – because I found threads in Luke 12 that addressed a lot of the things I’ve been thinking about all week.

               Luke 12 begins by addressing hypocrisy, and stating that all things will be made known and transparent. We’re not to be afraid of things of the earth, things that might harm our bodies. That’s what’s going on right now – lots of things that harm our bodies. The greater threat is what harms our souls, our relationship with God that is the bedrock of our salvation. We need to stay firmly rooted in our faith and be willing to say we follow Christ. Later in the chapter is the section about worry, about how God cares for all of God’s creatures some way or another, and how we need to trust that God will take care of us and continue to serve those less fortunate.

               Luke 12 shares the parable of the rich fool, who had so much that he kept building more storage for all of his money and possessions. Instead of counting himself blessed to have enough to share, to give to God and care for God’s people, he continued hoarding. God reminds us that when we store up things for ourselves and don’t do what God commands to help those in need, we are indeed rich fools.

               Lastly, and this is the part that came to mind, the final part of Luke 12 admonishes us to always be ready for Christ’s return, and therefore to always be doing what Christ has shown us by example to do. The parable of the wise and faithful manager shows this. The master puts the manager in charge of everything he has, directing him to support all those who are in the master’s care. If the manager decides to do what he wishes and mistreat the others instead of care for them, the master will return and catch him at it.  The manager’s call is to be a good steward of resources and to care well for all those in the master’s world. When the master returns and find him faithful, he will be honored. “From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.” We are accountable for the use of what we’ve been given.

               Our country has been blessed, and I’ve always considered that our call is to be wise stewards of our resources, supporting our own people and making sure they are well cared for, and supporting the peoples of the world who are in need. When people are cared for, everyone can live in peace. When diseases on the other side of the world are eradicated, we won’t suffer either. When people can earn a good living in their own country, they won’t seek to migrate to wealthier countries for better opportunities. When we support countries whose sovereignty is being threatened, we preserve an important world order.

               The current presidential administration is changing the ways we are acting in the world, and there will be huge effects. We have yet to see what those might be. Luke 12 reminds us that our call is to follow Christ first and foremost. Trust God to take care of us, serve others the way Christ taught us, be ready for Christ to come again. Faithfully do what Christ asks of us, serving as good stewards of the resources God has given us and using them to take care of God’s sheep near and far.

No matter what might be happening in our country, our call hasn’t changed. We are called to serve God’s people, today, tomorrow, and always. It’s in our power to do so, and it’s needed now more than ever. Stand firm and find the ways you can follow Christ and help those in need. Do it with integrity, determination, and joy!

In Christ's service,

Pastor Kimberly