by Rev Douglas Brauner

Being Christ in the World

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

My son and I replaced a couple of doors in our house. The old doors sat outside my house waiting to be thrown into a dumpster. I would never have thought of turning them into a bench.

Avon, Colorado

This bench in Avon, Colorado, entitled, Building Community, is sponsored by the Vail Board of Realtors. You might think that they’re advertising the sale of homes in and around Vail, but they’re actually promoting an outreach into the community that helps people in need, supports education and offers disaster relief.

This explains the words on this bench: giving and supporting.

Isn’t that God’s call placed on his children? Aren’t we called to give to and support people in our community?

“Do not withhold good from those who need it, when you have the ability to help.”
Proverbs 3:27 New English Translation

We are called to give when we have the resources to help those who are in need. We often heed this call by giving in line with our passions. We’ll quickly give of our time and treasures to champion those things we care about most.

We are also called to support people when they struggle. Supporting people who experience difficulties relates more to our time than our pocketbook. We’re called to give of our time and our presence when people encounter crises, sitting with them when no one else will.

We give to and support others because Jesus gave himself for us. We take comfort in Jesus’ words, “I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) He still cares for us.

People experience this amazing love of God through us as we give to them out of the surplus of God’s love, and as we support them on this crazy journey of life.

Maybe the pews and chairs in our churches should be made of old doors, reminding us of our calling to give to and support others in our communities.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado