I set up a hummingbird feeder in my backyard. Imagine my visions of a million birds fluttering in and out. I pictured a little backyard revival. But I’ve only seen two birds. Just two. And only once.
Now, I thought I had done everything right. I mixed the sugar water. I hung the feeder. I waited. But here’s what I didn’t know: sugar water doesn’t last forever. Especially in our south Texas heat, sugar water spoils quickly. I thought, for the most part, you set up a feeder and wait until it's empty. But it needs more care than that. Otherwise, it grows mold. It turns sour and causes illness to the birds. I should change the feeder every 2-3 days.
Now I know there is harm in neglecting the water.
As I'm reflecting on today's passage, I'm also taking into mind an upcoming baptism. During that ceremony, we'll pray over the water and remember various points of our story with God that include water. When we do, we realize it’s not just about that person in the water. It's about us, too. We remember our own baptism. We remember the water poured over our heads and into our lives.
The writer of Hebrews would affirm that, I think. According to Hebrews 2, if we don't give greater attention to our faith in Jesus, we run the risk of drifting away from him. Our faith doesn't spoil like sugar water, but it certainly doesn't grow if it's left unattended. A stagnant faith doesn't produce fruit. We need the reminders to keep our minds on God's way. We're too prone to forget if we don't.
Faith isn’t something you hang up and leave be. It must be stirred. It must be nurtured. It must be made fresh.
Worship reminds us. Prayer renews us. Scripture grounds us. Community holds us. Even the quiet whisper of a hummingbird, if we’re listening, can call us back to God’s truth.
So, tend to your faith. Stir it up. Keep it alive. And keep the water fresh.
Stay blessed...john
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