Pastoral Encouragement
9th May 2023
Dear Church,
On Sunday evening, I started a series in 2 Peter. One of the opening questions that Peter addresses in 2 Peter 1:1-11 is, how can we be certain that we are Christians? The answer that Peter gives is perhaps a little surprising. He says that we can see evidence that we are Christians in our growth in the ways of God. Growing in goodness, in knowledge of God, in godliness, and in love are all evidence that we are a Christian and that the Spirit is working in us. He continues that increased self-control, steadfastness, and love for the church all give us certainty that we really do belong to Jesus.
The evidence of our faith is seen. It is seen in many ways - how we exhibit the fruits of the Spirit, how we navigate trials and difficulties, and how we love and serve others. We perhaps sometimes look at our lives, or look at our church and feel that our progress is slow. Yet progress, even slow progress, is evidence of God's work in our lives and the genuineness of our faith.
At our last Church Meeting, the church agreed that it was a good thing for us to support the Child Survival Programme in Togo. This programme will provide much-needed pre and post-natal care for pregnant Mum's and their babies until the child is 18 months. As many of us know, Russell Trueman ran the London marathon for this programme and raised £4,489.00. This total will go towards the £12,500 that we are seeking to raise for this project.
I was recently reflecting on the generosity of the church. As I thought back just over this past year, I recalled that the church has responded generously to:
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support Sophie on her gap-year programme with Scripture Union
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provide school meals for P6 & P7 pupils - the generosity was such that we ended up with more money than we needed and have now been able to provide meals for pupils in 3 local primary schools
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sponsor Russell and raise funds for the Child Survival Programme
This has taken place with a backdrop of cost-of-living difficulties and a squeeze on household income. And this has all been done while regular giving to the church has been maintained.
As I reflected on this, and as I spoke to my fellow pastors and leaders, I felt it was important to acknowledge this collective spirit of generosity. We have said 'thank you' at different points so I do not write this to thank you, nor do I write this to point out how well we have done and cause us to be proud.
Instead I write this to commend you for this good work, to commend your sacrificial generosity, and to spur us on to continue in this spirit of generosity and of good works.
Such acts of generosity are evidence of the work of God in our lives and in the life of our church. The desire to willingly and cheerfully give is evidence of the genuineness of our faith.
Paul, writing to the church in Corinth says,
"Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work."
The act of willing and cheerful giving reminds us that it is not the quantity that is given but the heart and motivation for giving. Each person gives according to what they have but each practices the principle that it is better to give than to receive.
Paul continues,
"For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. By their approval of this service, they will glorify God because of your submission flowing from your confession of the gospel of Christ, and the generosity of your contribution for them and for all others"
Notice Paul says that our giving flows from our confession of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Our giving is a response to what our Lord Jesus has done for us. And the result of our giving is an overflow of thanksgiving to God. Generosity flows from God and results in praise to God - it begins and ends with Him.
So brothers and sisters, let me encourage you to never grow weary of doing good but to spur one another to abound in love and good works.
