Enjoy Life, Enjoy God

IMPART

September 5, 2011

Parents want to IMPART an education into the lives of their children, impart a foundation of right and wrong, a work ethic, and so on. Impart.

I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong--that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.
                                              --Romans 1:11,12 TNIV

Paul longs to visit with the Romans, but it's not just a social engagement as wonderful as that can be. But Paul sees his encounters with friends and family in the faith as visits with a purpose. To impart a gift, to be intentional about growing up in faith and discipleship. Paul had a singleness of purpose for himself to grow in the faith of Jesus Christ, and for all those around him. And flowing from that purpose, from imparting to one another, flowed mutual encouragement.

Might our friendships, encounters with one another be deepened, more substantive, and derive encouragement, if we were intentional about imparting some gift, a word of witness, and faith?

Joyfully,

Dale Patterson