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A LIFE OF FAITH
Because of the incredible impact Fred Rogers had on the kingdom of God, you might think he had a dramatic conversion experience or perhaps some other life-altering event. Yet his faith journey was more of a day-by-day deepening relationship with God.
As Fred strove to emulate people who lived quiet lives of faith, he maintained his own consistent faith practices. Throughout his life, he woke up at five in the morning to read his Bible and pray. He was also a devoted member of his home church and was known to sit in the stillness of the archabbey on his way to work. And he made himself available for what God was calling him to do.
In the thirty years that Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood aired, Mister Rogers gave what he had out of a desire to follow God’s call for him. He never wanted to be the one on camera. He would have preferred to be behind the scenes, playing the music and orchestrating the puppets. But early on, when the station manager told him they needed him as the star of the show, he rose to the challenge despite not feeling qualified. He didn’t refuse to be taped until he became a more impressive speaker. With five episodes to write, produce, and act in every week, he had to let the show go out to viewers whether or not he felt it was the best reflection of himself.
Fred so strongly believed in living a life of mission that he carried a slip of paper in his wallet from his college days that read, “Life is for Service.” When service motivates us, when love defines our words and actions, when we show up consistently even when we don’t have it all together, we will make a difference in the world. As we read in 1 Peter, “each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).
One of the gifts of learning from spiritual giants is realizing that there are endless possibilities of how to come to God and how to walk out a life of faith. And what we do in obedience, in response to the Creator’s plan for us, becomes a miracle.
What would “a quiet life of faith” look like in your own life right now?
We hope you are encouraged by this reading plan. To learn more about JOURNEY WITH A GIANT by Lori G. Melton click here.
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About this Plan
One way we can pursue our purpose and deepen our relationship with God is to learn from the “cloud of witnesses” we read about in Hebrews—spiritual giants who have gone before us and stand in heaven cheering us on. Mister Fred Rogers has served as one of those spiritual giants in my life. This week we’ll look at how Mister Rogers’s heart for service can point us back to God.
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