Recently I came upon a peculiar device in the church archives. If it were not for the label on the top, I never would have guessed that this was one of the first electric toasters. I always found it interesting that by simply heating up a piece of bread for the right amount of time at the right temperature it becomes much tastier. Apparently when bread transforms into toast, it undergoes a scientific process called the Maillard reaction that is proven to make food taste better. The process of toasting actually creates several chemical reactions that produce new flavors, aromas, and colors in our food.
I think sometimes our faith life is in need of a spiritual toaster. Too often we go through the motions of church the same way each year without stopping to consider if the things we learn about God change the way we live or change the way we are perceived by others.
Just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with simple plain bread. God grants us our daily bread, and Jesus is referred to as the bread of life. Moravians have always emphasized the importance of a simple faith that doesn’t overcomplicate things. This is the beauty of a toaster. By toasting bread, we don’t change the fact that it is bread. Toasted bread is still bread, but by simply applying a little heat the bread is renewed and given new life. By definition, heat is simply a transfer of energy. So, when our faith goes through a spiritual toaster it means we are allowing our simple faith to become energized.
As we begin to transition from the heat of the summer into the cooler conditions of fall, I hope that our faith life will continue to heat up. I hope that our faith can take on new energy as we continue in our walk with God. Perhaps reading a different translation of scripture can help energize your faith life. Or maybe being more active in Sunday school or other small groups at church can help get your toaster going. However you choose to transform your daily bread into daily toast, know that the God who created you, redeems you, and sustains you, will be with you every step of the way.
-Pastor Adam
