Another Year Begins

So School either just started or is about to start depending on which town you're in.  Summer is over.  And the marathon of another year begins.  For some it is the final leg of the high school race.  For others it is the beginning. 

 

There will be friends, teachers, homework, sports, more homework, tests, quizzes, practice, dances, dates and of course, homework. 

But what about perspective?

School demands so much time and attention, it dominates your schedule and it can be easy to feel like your life revolves around it, but... Does your life revolve around school?  Should it? 

 

What are you first?  Some of you are students first, some are athletes, some are nobody, and some are too cool to be defined, some of you transcend multiple categories while others would give anything just to find one place to fit in.

 

But you are more than any of these.  If you've been to even a handful of youth activities at CBC you should know this verse:

 

"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we would walk in them."  Ephesians 2:10

 

 

No matter what else you do, what you are, is a unique work of art, with a unique mission that only you can accomplish. 

 

God has good works for you to each day.

Will you walk in them?

Or will you be dragged along by the current of homework, friends, sports, classes, and just trying to survive?

 

You are the light of the world... Can people see a difference?

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."