Faith comes first by sight.
We believe in what we see and in what we come to understand about what
we have seen. We connect what we’ve seen
to what we are taught. God is real
because, as a children’s song goes, “God made the sun and God made the tree,
God made the mountains and God made me.”
We believe in God because of the rainbows which remind us of God’s
promises.
The first believers at Easter (they became the first
Christians, but weren’t called that until later) believed that Jesus was alive
because they SAW him: as he stood before Mary, as he pointed out his wounds to
Thomas, as he ate a piece of broiled fish before the Eleven and several other
disciples. Seeing was believing. Their eyes were opened and they recognized
him (in the breaking of the bread.)
When we were young, we learned the faith from what we saw
the people we loved doing. Our
grandparents delivered meals on wheels to those who were ill and
“shut-in.” Our mother baked pies for the
church bake sale. Our father got up
early to shovel the walks so people could get to church. We saw people making sacrifices for others –
offering the gifts of their time, talent and treasure to others so that the
other would “see the Lord” as well. And
people do see the Lord today. Only now,
people “see the Lord” in the acts of service of their neighbor.
That is where we are today.
“Easter People” volunteer in the food pantries, thrift shops and soup
kitchens. Disciples of Christ serve
meals to the bereaved after funerals.
Today’s believers in Jesus visit the sick and the lonely. God’s chosen teach the children who are come
to hear the stories of Jesus and his love in Vacation Bible School and church
camp.
Every Sunday in May during worship at First Christian Church of Trenton (MO) we will celebrate some of the people we
admire for what they have accomplished.
We will recognize our graduating seniors on May 6th, honor
our mothers, and those who have been like a mother to us, on May 13th
and remember our servicemen and women and our veterans on May 20th,
the Sunday after “Armed Forces Day.” And then, on May 27th, we will
remember and celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised would
come to believers, as we mark “Pentecost!”
Come and see what the Lord has done for us! I look forward to greeting you at the church
door or in the many places where we see the risen Christ at work in us!
