The members of St. John?Äôs Lutheran Church of Kimball recently bestowed the honor of ?ÄúMember of the Year?Äù for 2015 on Hank Isaac Chet Wessling, infant son of Chet and Jessica Wessling. Hank was born Oct. 12, 2015, and was the last baby baptized at St. John?Äôs during 2015. Hank was awarded a certificate proclaiming him Member of the Year, but declined the opportunity to give a speech ?Äì though he did come close to drooling on the microphone.
It may seem odd to bestow such an honor on a baby. In most organizations, such accolades are reserved for those who perform outstanding service within the organization. But the Church is unlike any other
organization. The rewards we receive in God?Äôs Kingdom are not awarded by merit. The best gifts God has to give ?Äì forgiveness of sins, resurrection, and eternal life ?Äì are completely free, purchased for us by Jesus through His death and resurrection, and given to us in our baptism. We simply receive the gifts through faith in Jesus (another one of God?Äôs gifts, by the way). The rest of our lives as Christians we can never earn or merit more than what God gave us right up front in our baptism. The work we do in His Church, the offerings we give, the service we offer, are simply ways to thank God for what He has already given us in full.
Which is why little Hank was honored as ?ÄúMember of the Year.?Äù Our prayer, of course, is that he will grow in the grace God has given him, and that he will come to know, understand, and rejoice in the love and forgiveness Jesus poured out on him in his baptism. We also hope that, as he grows in faith in Jesus, he will gladly offer himself in service to his God.
But that?Äôs down the road. In the meantime, Hank is available for speaking engagements. Just don?Äôt expect a whole lot. On the other hand, the Psalmist did write: ?ÄúFrom the lips of children and infants You have ordained praise?Ķ?Äù