Sowing Seeds for an Eternal Harvest

Peter Marshall, whose life was immortalized in the book and movie, A Man Called Peter, had a unique way of capturing people’s attention and causing them to think. On one occasion when he pastored Atlanta’s Westminster Presbyterian Church, Dr. Marshall interrupted the worship service as the congregation was singing the old hymn: Take My Life and Let It Be Consecrated. With his Scottish accent he drew the congregation’s attention to the lyrics they were about to sing:

Take my silver and my gold—

Not a mite would I withhold.

            He explained the practical significance of “Not a mite would I withhold”—a reference to the widow’s mite in the biblical story—and asked all who could not sing that line with absolute sincerity to not sing it at all. The instruments once again began to play, but the hundreds of voices that had been singing so energetically were completely silent. As the notes died down, Peter Marshall made his final point to the church: It’s OK for this to make us stop and think. Giving really matters and we must take it seriously.

            Peter Marshall was right. Giving is a serious matter; but it’s also a practice that brings inexpressible joy when done in the right spirit. And, as Paul told the Corinthians, “God loves a cheerful giver.”

            Giving is at the heart of the Christian life, at the heart of the Gospel, and at the heart of God. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son…” God is the infinite and perfect Giver: it is integral to who He is. And because giving is inherent in God’s character, when we give we identify with Him and reflect His likeness.

            Everything of true value is given by God. He has given us life itself—physical life in the blood that flows through our bodies and spiritual life in the blood of His Son, Jesus Christ, whose sacrifice makes possible our salvation. God has set the pattern for giving, and there is no worthier goal than to give like He gives. But is that possible? It is not only possible; it is imperative!

            As the year comes to a close, we are preparing our selves for the Christmas season and the beginning of the year 2010. We are indeed active in making God’s vision for Highlawn Baptist Church a reality and in the next few weeks we will begin to add a cost to that vision. Our search committee is already working hard to discern God’s choice of an Associate Pastor for us and with that choice comes the dollars and cents that go with that position. It is commitment time as the year comes to a close and we pray that your hearts will align with God’s vision and we continue to move forward in faithfulness towards the goal He has set before us. Please continue to lift your church up in prayer.

                                                                                                                                    In thankfulness to Him,

Pastor Mark