From Pastor Zeke Page 1 From the Desk of Pastor Zek “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God—not the result of works, so that no one may boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 Our blessing box in the church parking lot is often a source of rich conversation. Some people love the fact that you place food in there and then whoever comes along can get however much they need. Others truly struggle with the blessing box because they cannot control who gets the food and the fact that some people take more than they need and abuse it. I imagine there are many more thoughts about it but these two seem to be the most common. Admittingly, I struggle with giving up control with most things. I want to be a wise steward with all that I have been given. Sometimes I do good and other times fail miserably. I have come to view the blessing box as a faith exercise for myself. It is a no-strings-attached venue for the grace of God to flow through us. It is what a gift is supposed to look like. When you put food in there, it is a gift made in faith. Then you drive away and have to let go. This is easier said than done for many of us. I am amazed at the random people who show up and put food in the box- this happens a lot. Who are these random saints and what makes them do this? Amazing. These things make me think of Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is a gift. I have come to believe that the Methodist understanding of salvation as a means of grace is right on. Salvation come as grace through faith- all of which is a true gift of God. You will never do enough to earn it and never be good enough to deserve it but still it is given. We are the hungry ones that find ourselves at God’s blessing box. No matter what others say or think, we need God and God is offering Godself to us as a true gift. We don’t control how much grace God gives nor do we control who receives this grace. We only testify to that which we have received and invite others to feast on God’s grace. So when you drive by the blessing box, may you remember that you were once the hungry one in need of God’s nourishment and that God is faithful to feed us. - Keep the Faith Strong, Zeke Wesley UMC Newsletter October 2019
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