5:36 – Is Mint Condition The Best?

#faithbites #faithjourney mint

Intro

This aafternoon, I was going through thousands of old Magic The Gathering cards with my daughters. It was fun to look at them, talk about what they do, and look at the artwork. My youngest was worried about cards that are bent. I’ve gotten after her about that because cards need to be mint to be worth something. Growing up in the 70s and 80s and learning that all the toys I played with back then would be worth a fortune if they were in mint condition. But is mint condition toy’s what we really want? Don’t we get value out of playing with them?

Now, think about your Bible and your faith. Is it mint? Is your Bible tattered from use? Has it lost its value?

Questions

• Is your faith on a shelf or is it used?
• If your faith as a picture, what would it look like?
• How do you make the most out of God’s Word in your life?

Scripture

• 1 Peter 1:5 – but the word of the Lord endures forever.”And this is the word that was preached to you.
• 1 Thessalonians 2:13 – 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.
• Colossians 3:16 – Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.

Reflection

Mint ttoys and cards may have value to a collector but is that money worth more than the memories you have playing with them and with others? We know that God’s word endures forever. It isn’t more powerful if it’s in a brand new Bible versus one that it held together with duct tape. For God’s word to work in us, we need to know it. Knowing it comes from reading it. Sure we may have electronic bibles, but the point remains. Is your Bible sitting on a shelf in mint condition or have you used it until it falls apart. We also know that faith without works is dead. If you are trying to be a mint person, you aren’t getting in the trenches. Being wrong, bruised, and broken down is part of an active faith. Because of Christ, we are made whole and given energy to keep working.

Sure, I have some cards and collectibles that I don’t want my kids to touch. But I’m getting better at realizing that maybe the few extra bucks I get from them in mint condition isn’t worth losing out on the memories made.

As we close, remember, practice your faith. Be in God’s word and active in service.

Prayer

Father God, thank you for showing us what faith in action should look like. You also tell us that no matter the bumps and bruises, Jeuas makes us clean for you. Help us to move past thinking that being a mint condition person is the best and move into accepting the tears and bruises of being active in life and in you. We pray this in your name, Amen.