What difference does your faith make to you? A strange question to start perhaps, but I think it is important we ask this question not only of others but ourselves.
Why do we need to ask this question? Because people of no faith must think we are strange because we believe as Christians in someone we have never seen, that we celebrate the birth of a child we believe is the Son of God.
It is time to speak out even though speaking out about what a difference our faith makes can be a daunting task, but it has become a necessary one.
With everything that is happening around us, not only in our country but in our own communities searching for answers has become a priority. I am not saying that as Christians we have all the answers but what I am saying is that a faith enables us to lay our concerns on a God who listens and enables a hope that wasn’t there before. Our faith gives us strength to carry on when things go wrong, to give us a peace that goes beyond understanding. Our faith also gives a great joy which sometimes must seem very odd to many people as we let this joy out in song and praise in Church and in our everyday life.
It is time for us to share our faith. Let us tell people about Jesus in our lives and the new life we have in Him which has made such a difference in our personal lives and as a community of faith.
Over the coming months find an opportunity for people to come and ask their questions. Enable them to be open about their search for peace in their lives.
Some of the following questions, are ones I have asked in my journey to faith: -Who is Jesus? What happens in Church? What is this new life? What on earth is a Methodist anyway? Why do we worship a God we cannot see? What difference does faith make?
None of these questions can be answered without much thought and prayer but answer them we must, as we prepare to be the signposts to a new life in Jesus for all who search.