Dear Rose Park,
This past Sunday, we had the great joy of celebrating the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper around the communion table. During our time of worship though, immediately prior to coming to the table, my five-year-old daughter pulled on my shirt sleeve and asked me a question that I’ve been thinking about ever since.
Let me offer a bit of context. On Saturday night, I asked Winnie if she’d like to go with me to Family Fare. I needed to get a few staple grocery items, but I also told her that we needed to buy communion supplies. Fast-forward to Sunday morning. While we’re singing, Winnie, with a confused look on her face, asked me, “Dad, we bought communion stuff last night, but every Sunday you tell the church that you can’t buy communion. So, which is it? Can you buy it or not?”
I smiled and told her we’d talk about it later. Not only does this serve as a healthy reminder that the next generation is paying more attention than we realize, but this also serves as a helpful teaching point for all of us. The answer is yes and no. Yes, I bought the communion supplies from Family Fare on Saturday night. No, you can’t buy the grace, mercy, and love of God. They aren’t for sale. We know this because the prophet Isaiah and the apostle Paul clearly tells us so.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” (Isaiah 55:1)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)
God freely and lavishly bestows His grace, mercy and love upon all His children. Not only, can you not buy or purchase these gifts, but you also can’t earn any more of them. No amount of church attendance can convince God to love you any more than He already does. No amount of tithing can earn more of God’s favor. No amount of service can upgrade your seat at the table of remembrance, communion, and hope.
Keep in mind, this doesn’t mean that attending worship, giving your tithes with a joyful heart, or serving your neighbor is pointless. Instead, it is because of God’s great love for us that we can worship, tithe, serve, forgive, listen, and love with great freedom.
This is all to say, God is the primary actor in our lives, and we have the great privilege to respond to God. So, you can’t buy God’s love, mercy or forgiveness, but you can spend your entire life responding to His love with gratitude, service, and joy.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark
Photo by Geda Žyvatkauskaitė on Unsplash