I've been listening to this sermon series on how we are "the salt and light of the world". It's a pretty standard message that, if you're a Christian, makes total sense and you've probably heard it as a kid. And I bet at this very moment, some of you are singing "this little light of mine" in your head. Admit it. :)
But...as we go through our Christian life, this term of being a light takes on a new meaning. As a kid, I always felt that I should let my light shine. But I took it in the sense of staying put and being a good person. Wherever you are, just try not to get caught up with the crowd, and when trouble comes, make sure you hold fast and shine. There was never a proactive approach with my light. It was stationary.
Then our group started this fast yesterday preparing for a summer event. After spending some time in prayer, I listened to a sermon that spoke from Ephesians 5. While the whole chapter is convicting, verse 11 really hit home: 11"Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them."
To me...that means you should have a proactive approach with your light. When you see sin, your job as the light of the world isn't just to be the goody-two-shoes guys in the office who would never do that. Being a light exposes sin. Being a light is an active job.
So are you active with your light? When you see sin, do you expose it? Or do you stand around and let things slide. We can hold a flashlight in a dark room, but in order to turn the light switch on so everyone can see, we will need to physically shine the light around to find the switch. Jesus was the light of the world....and He didn't stay put. He made sure everyone saw the Light so that sin would be exposed. He gave us the template, so we just have to follow it. So while you go to class today, joke with friends at the office, or surround yourself with various people....ask yourself....what am I doing with my light?
God bless,
Jobbin
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Think Global
4 weeks and counting....that's how long it's been since we have had small group. In case you don't know, our youth group meets every other Sunday for small group/Bible study and I just so happen to lead it. But my life has been so crazy for the past month, I just have been way too bombarded to lead it. And to make things worse, I absolutely love leading small groups and its driving me crazy that we haven't had one yet!
To be fair, I have been really busy with good, productive, personal things, but at the same time I haven't been able to properly meditate and prepare with the Word as I wanted to. So this week I finally hunkered down and spent some time studying the Word and really praying about what God wants me to do over the next few months. And He spoke loud and clear....
Think bigger. We get caught up in a lot of good things. Even good spiritual things. We might be nice, church going people who even read the Word and pray regularly. That's where I found myself....but something was still lacking. I felt that I was doing the will of God in my life....but the funny thing is God's will is SO much bigger than the personal will for our particular lives. He has a Global will in mind too.
We all know the story of Jonah...but one particular note about it caught me. He was a prophet!! Here is someone who actually understands the character of God Himself, and still refused to do His will. That's because Jonah was selfish and even though he wanted to serve God as a prophet, he cared about God's personal will for him rather than God's global will. A perfect example of this is that Jonah literally got angry after God showed mercy on Nineveh! (Jonah 4:1-2) Who does that? Why would he get mad at God saving someone? But when the vine he was getting shade for withered away, he became angry again because it affected him personally.
I love how the book of Jonah ends. It ends with a question from God, and I felt He was asking the same question to me and I hope you feel convicted too when you read it. Jonah 4:11: "But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" How does this relate to me not leading Bible study? Simple...I need to spend more time furthering God's GLOBAL will instead of my own. Developing youth into a community for Christ is our mission. We can spend all day praying and fasting for our personal needs, but at the end of the day, God is asking us to be concerned with something greater.
To be fair, I have been really busy with good, productive, personal things, but at the same time I haven't been able to properly meditate and prepare with the Word as I wanted to. So this week I finally hunkered down and spent some time studying the Word and really praying about what God wants me to do over the next few months. And He spoke loud and clear....
Think bigger. We get caught up in a lot of good things. Even good spiritual things. We might be nice, church going people who even read the Word and pray regularly. That's where I found myself....but something was still lacking. I felt that I was doing the will of God in my life....but the funny thing is God's will is SO much bigger than the personal will for our particular lives. He has a Global will in mind too.
We all know the story of Jonah...but one particular note about it caught me. He was a prophet!! Here is someone who actually understands the character of God Himself, and still refused to do His will. That's because Jonah was selfish and even though he wanted to serve God as a prophet, he cared about God's personal will for him rather than God's global will. A perfect example of this is that Jonah literally got angry after God showed mercy on Nineveh! (Jonah 4:1-2) Who does that? Why would he get mad at God saving someone? But when the vine he was getting shade for withered away, he became angry again because it affected him personally.
I love how the book of Jonah ends. It ends with a question from God, and I felt He was asking the same question to me and I hope you feel convicted too when you read it. Jonah 4:11: "But Nineveh has more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left, and many cattle as well. Should I not be concerned about that great city?" How does this relate to me not leading Bible study? Simple...I need to spend more time furthering God's GLOBAL will instead of my own. Developing youth into a community for Christ is our mission. We can spend all day praying and fasting for our personal needs, but at the end of the day, God is asking us to be concerned with something greater.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
All around me...
I know this is extremely late, but I just couldn't think of what to write about... to be honest, I don't even know right now. Lol - all I know is that I like there are so many things happening all around me in this world and I don't necessarily feel responsible for them occurring, but rather, I do feel like it is our/my duty/responsibility to uphold my friends and others (in this world) in prayer... some may call that... a burden, I guess.
I know God has a mighty plan for this up and coming generation... He's calling out a generation to be strongly founded on Him - not like the guy who 'cleverly' builds his house on the sand only to have it topple at the first torrent of waves, instead, MUCH like the guy who wisely builds his house on a strong solid foundation (ie. the ROCK) - it's this man that represents the generation that God is calling out these days... He doesn't want the feeble minded... He wants leaders who are willing to say "God, from here on out, all I am, and all I have, is Yours." He wants leaders who are willing to say "Although there are storms, and the world may tell me I am not safe... I will look to You and know that I am secure."
Guys, he wants leaders who are willing to say, "ENOUGH with this second-hand dual-tone life that I'm living, I want to live for Christ, and if that means giving up every part of me, including ever last breath, then so be it."
There are people out there in this world: men, women, and children - who are lost and need our help - they are the homeless, the en-slaved, the hungry, the depressed... the broken... and it's US who are called to reach out to them. Let's keep them in our prayers, and open ourselves up to what God is calling us to do... He has a purpose in each and every one of our lives, and He's going to let you know what that is exactly... But when that happens will yo ube able to say:
"Despite what the world may want me to believe, despite the chaos all around me, despite the questions I don't have answers to... Lord, here I am, tell me what you'd like me to do today."
It's a bit scary to think that God still gives us an option to say Yes or No even though He asks us of certain things, but in all honesty, it's up to us, as leaders, to set aside ourselves, focus on God, consider this world, and do what God has called us to do in it...
God bless
I know God has a mighty plan for this up and coming generation... He's calling out a generation to be strongly founded on Him - not like the guy who 'cleverly' builds his house on the sand only to have it topple at the first torrent of waves, instead, MUCH like the guy who wisely builds his house on a strong solid foundation (ie. the ROCK) - it's this man that represents the generation that God is calling out these days... He doesn't want the feeble minded... He wants leaders who are willing to say "God, from here on out, all I am, and all I have, is Yours." He wants leaders who are willing to say "Although there are storms, and the world may tell me I am not safe... I will look to You and know that I am secure."
Guys, he wants leaders who are willing to say, "ENOUGH with this second-hand dual-tone life that I'm living, I want to live for Christ, and if that means giving up every part of me, including ever last breath, then so be it."
There are people out there in this world: men, women, and children - who are lost and need our help - they are the homeless, the en-slaved, the hungry, the depressed... the broken... and it's US who are called to reach out to them. Let's keep them in our prayers, and open ourselves up to what God is calling us to do... He has a purpose in each and every one of our lives, and He's going to let you know what that is exactly... But when that happens will yo ube able to say:
"Despite what the world may want me to believe, despite the chaos all around me, despite the questions I don't have answers to... Lord, here I am, tell me what you'd like me to do today."
It's a bit scary to think that God still gives us an option to say Yes or No even though He asks us of certain things, but in all honesty, it's up to us, as leaders, to set aside ourselves, focus on God, consider this world, and do what God has called us to do in it...
God bless
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Power in Prayer
Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
So I had finals this week and I've never studied so much in my life!!!! I prayed and studied for the past week and did nothing else. Today I found out that a couple of my close friends didn't pass the final that we all were afraid of. I didn't check my grade after hearing everyone saying they didn't make it. These were the people I was studying with. " If they didn't make it, what makes me think I did?" For 30 minutes, I was walking around school with my blood pressure up the roof and my heart rate at 200. I didn't want to check my grade, but as I was walking I was praying to Jesus that his will be done in my life and that he gives me strength. The peace that I had was no where near. All these doubts came into my head and remembering that I didn't pass two semesters ago came to my head. So finally I went to a lab and got to computer and before I clicked I put my hands in front of my eyes and as it came up and I moved two fingers and saw 85.7 and remember I needed an 83. God is good.
1 Corinthians 15:10 - But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me--and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
I don't remember how much I cried out to God besides this semester. When your desperate, I believe God will help you. I have one more final and we'll see how I do.
So I had finals this week and I've never studied so much in my life!!!! I prayed and studied for the past week and did nothing else. Today I found out that a couple of my close friends didn't pass the final that we all were afraid of. I didn't check my grade after hearing everyone saying they didn't make it. These were the people I was studying with. " If they didn't make it, what makes me think I did?" For 30 minutes, I was walking around school with my blood pressure up the roof and my heart rate at 200. I didn't want to check my grade, but as I was walking I was praying to Jesus that his will be done in my life and that he gives me strength. The peace that I had was no where near. All these doubts came into my head and remembering that I didn't pass two semesters ago came to my head. So finally I went to a lab and got to computer and before I clicked I put my hands in front of my eyes and as it came up and I moved two fingers and saw 85.7 and remember I needed an 83. God is good.
1 Corinthians 15:10 - But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me--and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
I don't remember how much I cried out to God besides this semester. When your desperate, I believe God will help you. I have one more final and we'll see how I do.
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