VBS Day 3

"What's important to Jesus should be important to me."

That was the big lesson for the kids last night.  It also bears repeating for the rest of us. 

I won't go into specifics, but several of us ran into situations where we needed this perspective last night. (My self included.)  Some of us couldn't get our minds off what was important to us.  Others made it through to what was important to Jesus.

It is a question of priorities, that hits us right where we live, and should impact the way we think about everything we do:  Is wearing this important to Jesus? Is buying that important to Jesus? Is flirting with him/her important to Jesus?  Is going there important to Jesus? Is playing my favorite sport or video game important to Jesus?  Is watching or listening to this what would be important to Jesus?  Is doing my homework what would be important to Jesus? 

If we really believe that "We are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them" (Eph 2:10) then we should start to see ourselves as tools in the master's hands, unique and beautiful, and designed for a purpose.  If something will help us accomplish that purpose, then we pursue it, heart, soul, mind and strength.  If it distracts from that purpose, we need to avoid it heart, soul, mind and strength.

Don't let the devil convince you that anything fun is 'dirt' and Jesus is the 'vacuum cleaner', just waiting to suck all the fun out of your life.  Remember Jesus said that He came so that we may have life and have it more abundantly. He went to parties, (even questionable parties at 'sinners' houses... *gasp!*) He celebrated, He had friends, He spent time alone on a mountain, and liked to go off into the woods.  He enjoyed life.  But He also kept His mission, His purpose, at the forefront of His thinking.  He knew that pleasure had to be kept in it's proper perspective, because too much of a good thing comes with a heavy price tag.  That is why He said "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet loose or forfeit his very soul?" 

Don't be so focused on what is fun or easy that you miss out on what is important and fulfilling.  Remember "What's important to Jesus should be important to me."