Somebody had given me money for a new compact edition of the beautiful Lutheran Service Book, the smaller, leather-bound edition. 

I wanted it embossed with one of my favorite Bible passages, so I told the representative at Concordia Publishing House to imprint the cover with a verse from Philippians, "To me to live is Christ" which was within the allowable 25 spaces.

When the volume was delivered, I found printed on the front, "To me to is Christ." 

Oops!

The word "live" was missing.  It was a simple mistake, of course.  But when I reported the error (perhaps talking to the same young lady), I learned she wasn't familiar with that passage.

She said, "I think I may have heard it, but I don't know."

I mistakenly assumed anyone typing the order would know this beautiful confession of St. Paul, "To me, to live is Christ." 

But they just didn't.

Correcting the matter of the embossing was easily sorted out.  But the little episode served as a very important reminder to me.

Things which are so familiar to us from God's Word are often just not known to others.  Basic, essential kernels of Christian doctrine are often not known by others.  Too easily it can be taken for granted that folks even in our own church are acquainted with matters of Christian theology, history, or practice.  How right to be reminded never to take our faith or the faith of others for granted.

The privilege and duty of the church is continually to employ catechesis [kat-i-kee-sis]. 

Sorry, there I go using a big word.  But catechesis is simply our recognition that the church teaches the Word of the Lord and must never take anything for granted.

If someone has not heard, let us tell them.  If someone has yet to understood, let it be our privilege to help them understand.  If someone hasn't believed, let's pray for them.  If someone doesn't know, it really is not their responsibility to discover the truth, nor are they even able.  It is the joy of those who have Christ's Word to bring it.

St. Paul says to the Romans, "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in?  And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard?"

I confess that I missed a golden opportunity in this.  As I was speaking with this pleasant young lady while she adjusted the order, I only talked about getting the missing word printed correctly the next time.  She spelled it out and doubled checked.

But why didn't I talk with her about the meaning of that wonderful confession, the worth we find in this acknowledgment of Christ?  Why didn't I take the moment to declare life has no significance, no joy, no continuance, and no beauty except the life which is Christ?

I could have taken that moment to say it is Christ Who is our life, and we have no life except in Him?   

But I took my opportunity for granted.  We all do that so easily. We have so many openings to speak of our life in Christ.  Blessedly, we are not limited to 25 spaces.

May the Lord give us His grace to take advantage of the next occasion, reassured that the Holy Spirit never takes our knowledge of Christ for granted.  To each of us He continually repeats the sweet, glorious Gospel for our hearts and for the sharing with others.