I turned 16 about one week before the start of my sophomore year of high school. The summer leading up to that fateful day was a flurry of activities to prepare me for a major rite of passage: getting my driver’s license!
In June I took driver’s education in summer school with Coach Shaffer. A bit later, I passed a written exam and got my driver’s permit. A couple of months later I located and purchased a great used car. And then, on the morning of my birthday, I went to the DMV, took my driving test and secured my driver’s license!
That afternoon I went home, got in my car, picked up a few friends and cruised around town. It was one of those great “growing up” moments.
Now, imagine for a moment, though, that that afternoon went a little differently. What if I took the class, got the permit, got the driver’s license, got the car, had places I wanted to go … but had no gas in the tank? I’ll tell you what would have happened … I would have gone NO WHERE and the disappointment would have been written all over my face.
Now I share that story with you today because when it comes to the Christian life, all too often we:
- Have a version of “Christian Ed” where we tell people WHAT they need to do to become a Christian.
- Tell people things they need to permit (and avoid) as they live out their Christian life.
- Talk about the vehicle of a new life in Christ that they get to “drive”
- Encourage people to drive this new life with their friends
However … many times in our conversations about Christianity, we do ALL THAT, but forget to talk about the fuel God has put in our tanks to actually power this life! What a shame!
This Sunday at Wildwood, we will be wrapping up our “New Normal” sermon series by looking at just one verse (Galatians 2:20) as we see the incredible fuel God puts in our tank, and the key to ignite it in our everyday lives. I can’t wait to wrap up this series with you together this weekend. Hope to see you in our 9:00, 10:15, or 11:30 service (in person and with classes for students, children, and adults), or 10:15 online in the stream (wildwoodchurch.org/live). See you Sunday (and we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper together)!!
P.S. This week we are singing 3 of my favorite songs (“In Christ Alone,” “His Mercy is More,” and “Amazing Grace”), looking at one of my favorite passages of Scripture (Galatians 2:20), with my favorite congregation (that’s you), focusing on the most amazing Savior (Jesus). What a great weekend. Hope you may it in person or online!