The reason that we are meeting here at Bible club, or FCA is found in Matt 5:14 where Jesus calls us to be light. And to �let it shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your father in heaven.� The school is filled with darkness. The world hated Jesus when he was living on the Earth, and still hates Him 2000 years later. But God calles us to be witnesses for Jesus. Another reason that we're here is because we're all beggars. We know someone rich, who shares with everybody. It is our responsibility to care enough to tell our friends. We should have a willing attitude, and not be afraid of other people. I mean "if God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31)God was willing enough to die for each and every one of us, what should we do in return?
We should depend on God, no matter what. Throw yourself onto him. Don�t resort to praying, but instead go to God right away with anything. It says in Psalm 125 that �Those who trust in the Lord are as Mt. Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.� Think of the trust that we have in airports, car alarms, and everywhere else that we strive for security with. But the only true, secure thing, is God. He is as a mountain. It is kind of tough to shake a mountain. Depending on God means letting go, throwing yourself over the edge to Him. Don't be holding onto anything in this world. We don't need accounts here on Earth, because our true treasures, are in Heaven.
Put faith in God. We know the song "Yes Lord." "I'm trading my sorrows, I'm trading my shame, I'm laying them down, for the joy of the Lord. Whatever sorrow, whatever shame that the world throws at you is not worth bumping God from the top of your list. A homecoming date wont mean ANYTHING, if we forget about God. Because theWORLD = EMPTINESS, but GOD = FULFILLING. The only true fulfilling thing that there ever is. We can party, drink, do anything else that the world offers, but we'll still come up short. Only God can fill that hole in our heart.
Lately I have been going through some hard times, but as of no, I know that I will overcome. In James 1:2 it says: �count it all joy my brothers, when you face various trials.� Trials are time or situation that God puts you in to strengthen you. Think of a parent teaching kid to walk. The kid falls, but gets back up, and repeats itself over and over until it learns. Then the baby grows up and can walk perfectly. God trains us. It says in James 1:3 that �You know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.� He purifies us, and through trials, we build endurance. We build the strength to go on. And God is always there watching us, like a parent. He will never forsake you, fail you, or abandon you. (Josh 1:5)
During our life, we must keep our eyes focused on God. In Phil. 3:14 it says �I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus.� Press on. No matter what. We are living a life, like Paul says, "running a race." Think of a runner in cross country. A good runner does not look back. They think about what lies ahead of them, they press on, and strive for the goal that lies in front of them. FOCUS! What are you pursuing? Could it be that girl in your math class? Could it be drugs? Think about a dog on a scent trail. When it smells something...NOTHING keeps it from continuing on that scent. I like to thing of a river with different tributaries coming off of it. We can be going on a river, maybe not always smooth, and sometimes little rivers come off of it. We know that we shouldn't go down them, but we do anyways. The "drug" river, or whatever we get side tracted with, will soon dry up. Then what? We just get stuck in the sand. If we stay on the river that we know is right, if we "press on toward the goal" then God will be waiting there with open arms. Another verse that I'd like to share is this: It's Phil. 3:20 "For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;" We are citizens of Heaven. We are aliens of this Earth. Not to be conformed to it, that is what God is for. We are His clay, in which He forms in our hands (Isaiah 64:8). Anyways, if we are citizens of heaven, then we don't belong on this Earth. We are citizens of Gods town. Cool huh? but how do we act? Do we act like angels in heaven? I know that I don't. What kind of attitude do we have towards God?
It is kind of strange what an attitude can do for, or against us. I looked up attitude in the dictionary, and it said that an attitude is a state of mind, a position indicating action; a feeling, or a mood. It is kind of weird what kind of attitude that we have towards differnt things. Like I know that with school, I don't always have an open attitude, I feel like sometimes I am just there because I have to be. But then I think, that I never really learn anything, if I don't want to learn it. If I don't take the time to learn it. Like take spanish for instance...it is SO easy to let it go in one ear, and out the other. But to actually try to translate each word, takes work. But I know that it will be worth it, when I get a good grade, or learn the language. Thinko about God now. What position are we in? What feeling towards Him do we have? Is it "Oh I'll talk to You at church on sunday." Or "Well I'm going to this party, see You later." Or is it, "WOW! I can't wait to go home and read my Bible."? Or even, "Check out what I learned today, and what God has shown me." Because when you're willing to learn, then God is willing to teach you. Kind of cool huh? Well now for my last topic, it is pressing on.
In Philippians 3:14, Paul says, "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of Christ Jesus." It says press on, no matter what. I run cross country, and I know that the finish line is where I press on towards. I know that if I press my hardest, then the reward will be great. (And it has been...5 ribbons...not bad eh?) But while I'm running I like to think of this verse (okay, so maybe not while I'm running...but the race of life I am thinking about this verse.) And its James 1:3 �For you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.� Perseverance or endurance. It means that God is testing us, and we know that when we are done with the test, we will be stronger. God is there the whole time during the test, to watch us, guide us, and carry us through, but if, while we are running this Christian race called life, we press on, and endure, then we know that we have an awesome prize waiting for us at the finish line. But what are we focusing on? What are we pursuing in life? Are we just going to Bible club/FCA to cross it off of our list as being a good kid for the week? Are we just "Going with the flow" and letting the world take us where ever it pleases? Think about a river, that we are flowing down. Everybody else may want to take differnt exits off of the river: drinking, girls...whatever it may be, but where do they end up? Flat on their faces, on dry sand. They have nothing left. That is how unfullfilling that the world is. But if we keep on the trail, keep pressing on towards the goal of �Christ� Jesus, then we will end up with this amazing prize.
And while living this life, I like to think of this quote that I've heard. It's a really cool thing to live by...And I'll leave you with this:
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