Fan into flame God’s gift of faith

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:5).

 One of the greatest things you can do for your children and grandchildren is pray for them. Pray for them daily, without ceasing. Start early when they are still in the womb.

 “He commanded our fathers to teach to their children, that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children, so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep His commandments…” (Psalm 78:5b-7).

Life is so good here in Canada that sometimes we forget, don’t we? As this story shows, thank God for continuing to send His Holy Spirit at just the right time to help us remember. Baby is due in September and the young couple is so excited to start their family. They planned well for this. Then COVID-19 hits. His grandfather gets sick, then his dad. He starts wondering, “Is this the end of the world? Our faith is so weak, we will not go to heaven. And if our faith is weak, then our baby’s faith will be weak too, and our baby won’t go to heaven.”

“a bruised reed He will not break, and a faintly burning wick, He will not quench;” Isaiah 42:3a

Though reeds and wicks are of little value, they are still handled carefully by our Lord. How much more will He handle us carefully when our faith is weak. All things and people are precious in His sight.

Our father-to-be gets out his Bible and begins reading God’s Word. Comforting words from their own baptism and confirmation come flooding back. They begin to pray together, an evening prayer her mother taught her and the Lord’s Prayer. They decide they are going back to church. Right now, all churches are locked down, so they tune into the nearest Lutheran congregation online. There the pure Word of God reaches their ears again…the wick has been kindled.

Arletta, Saskatchewan

Share your story. Has your faith been rekindled by the work of the Holy Spirit? Have you been drawn closer to God in faith and trust during this pandemic? Send it to vpmemberdevelopment@lutheranwomen.ca and it will be shared via this blog in a future posting.

 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life”  (John 3:16“).