| Devotionals from the Upper Room |
| This is the part of the website where I will keep the devotionals from Wednesday Nights at The Upper Room. At any given time I will probably only have 8 or 9 devotionals posted up here. But I will make a list of all the devotionals I have so you can e-mail me to recieve the ones that are not posted on the website. |
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| Priorities Football, Volleyball, Cross Country, Band, Basketball, Softball, Cheerleading, School, Homework, Youth Group, Sunday School, Church. Busy, Busy, Busy. Go here, go there. Do this, do that. In a world with so many activities and obligations, it is hard to get everything done; sometimes even impossible. For this reason, we are called upon daily to prioritize, or choose what is most important for us to do on a day when we can�t get everything done. You�ve probably had to make a million decisions about whether you should go to a practice or a church function, finish your homework or hang out with your friends. Your mind may have been made up before you were even asked to decide but you made the decision regardless. However, when making that decision, was the choice you made a decision based on God�s word? Many Christian, adults included, confuse church and God. They think that when given a choice, God�s will is always that you should go to church, and when the doors are open, they are always there. And why shouldn�t this be true? Fellowship is a very important part of Christianity. Coming to church allows you to worship God as he commanded. 1 Colossians 1:18 a says, �Christ is the head of the body, the church...�. When we come to church, we are lifted up by people who love us. They help us through are struggles and help us not to stray from God�s will. However, in everything that we do we should remember Matthew 18:19-28. Read Matthew 18:19-28 We are called to witness to others about Christ. People are watching us, and Christ expects us to be good witnesses, which brings me to my point. When your sitting in a classroom full of unsaved students and maybe an unsaved teacher, is it a good witness when you don�t have your homework done? Is it a good witness to your teamates when you miss a practice or game? Why should any of these people come to church with you or listen to your witness when all they see is an irresponsible teenager. 2 Corinthians 8:21 says, �For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men.� Christians are called as everyone else, to obey the law and perform the duties of their jobs. Teenagers are not different. They are also called to perform their duties at school or at work. Coming to church on Wednesday and Sunday does not give you a right to have late work on Thursday or Monday. A festival of fun at the church does not give you a right to miss a school activity such as sports or band. Find a way to fulfill your duties on earth as well as your duties as a Christian. Attending church is very, very important, but don�t ever let attending church go from being a good witness to a bad one. No person can give you the answer to how to live your life. Only God can do that. Throughout the week, read the bible, and pray for guidance. Pray that God will help you to be a good witness in all that you do. |