James, chapter 1, that we should think of it as pure joy when we face hardships and trials because it proves that God is at work in our lives. A few verses later, we’re told that it’s the people who live humbly who should be proud of their high position and that it’s the rich who should be aware of their lowly position.
God doesn’t have the same values we do. So if you are seeking His will, you’ll be open to whatever He has for you, even if it’s not always in line with what you think you want or deserve.
“As Christians, we can’t walk through life unaware of the needs around us. We have to realize that, even when we have it so good, many people around us and around the world are suffering. Jesus came to reach those suffering people, and He asks us to partner with Him to do it. We can never be a part of that if our only focus is to drive our own agendas and get what we want all of the time. Our focus has to change from being about us and what we want, to being about Him and where He is working. With that corrected focus, it’s a lot easier to live without certain privileges and pleasures, and it’s also a lot easier to stay out of trouble. Do you think that if you have the singular focus of serving Jesus and allowing Him to serve others through you that you will make some of the dumb teenage choices you will be faced with? It’s impossible.”
“So,” Steve posed a question, keeping the dialogue flowing, “how do we do it? How do we change our focus and make our lives abouteveryone but ourselves? And once we know how to do it, we then have to answer the question of whether we want to. What do you think?”
The group remained quiet for a bit as the students considered Steve’s words. It was clear that some of them were truly moved by Rob’s testimony and Steve’s message. Lindsay quietly contemplated her thoughts, and feeling the gentle tug that she had come to recognize as the leading of the Holy Spirit, she opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.
“What is it, Lindsay?” Steve asked. “Go ahead—be honest.”
“Well, if I’m to be perfectly honest …” She hesitated again.
“It’s okay to share openly. Go ahead, Linds,” Steve prodded.
“Well, the thing is, I’m in eighth grade. I mean, am I not supposed to think of myself? Isn’t that how growing up is supposed to be? But when I hear you talk and I consider Rob’s words and what he did with his summer, I know in my heart that you’re right, and I realize that Rob found another way. But part of me wishes that I hadn’t heard this stuff. To be honest, it’s a loteasier to be a kid and to let my parents take care of the details. Expectations from God are the last thing I thought I would have to face right now.” Lindsay stopped talking even though she felt like she had more to say. She was conflicted.
“Thank you so much for your honesty,” Steve encouraged her. “The reason that you feel so much conflict over this is that your spirit is at war with your flesh. That means that your heart, the part that the Holy Spirit leads, is fighting a battle with the human side of you, the side that Lindsay leads. Believe it or not, it’s a good thing. We are told in Galatians, chapter 5, verse 17, ‘For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.’ Jesus knows that we fight that battle with our humanity, and He encourages us to be victorious through Him. The problem is that it’s not just a one-time victory and then it’s settled. It’s a daily struggle that we must fight. We have to surrender our wills and our desires to Him and choose each day to follow Him.”
“Yes,” Lindsay jumped in, “that battle you’retalking about, that’s exactly how I feel. But I know that I want to serve Jesus and I want to do what He asks me to, but I worry that sometimes I just won’t be good
God doesn’t have the same values we do. So if you are seeking His will, you’ll be open to whatever He has for you, even if it’s not always in line with what you think you want or deserve.
“As Christians, we can’t walk through life unaware of the needs around us. We have to realize that, even when we have it so good, many people around us and around the world are suffering. Jesus came to reach those suffering people, and He asks us to partner with Him to do it. We can never be a part of that if our only focus is to drive our own agendas and get what we want all of the time. Our focus has to change from being about us and what we want, to being about Him and where He is working. With that corrected focus, it’s a lot easier to live without certain privileges and pleasures, and it’s also a lot easier to stay out of trouble. Do you think that if you have the singular focus of serving Jesus and allowing Him to serve others through you that you will make some of the dumb teenage choices you will be faced with? It’s impossible.”
“So,” Steve posed a question, keeping the dialogue flowing, “how do we do it? How do we change our focus and make our lives abouteveryone but ourselves? And once we know how to do it, we then have to answer the question of whether we want to. What do you think?”
The group remained quiet for a bit as the students considered Steve’s words. It was clear that some of them were truly moved by Rob’s testimony and Steve’s message. Lindsay quietly contemplated her thoughts, and feeling the gentle tug that she had come to recognize as the leading of the Holy Spirit, she opened her mouth to speak but hesitated.
“What is it, Lindsay?” Steve asked. “Go ahead—be honest.”
“Well, if I’m to be perfectly honest …” She hesitated again.
“It’s okay to share openly. Go ahead, Linds,” Steve prodded.
“Well, the thing is, I’m in eighth grade. I mean, am I not supposed to think of myself? Isn’t that how growing up is supposed to be? But when I hear you talk and I consider Rob’s words and what he did with his summer, I know in my heart that you’re right, and I realize that Rob found another way. But part of me wishes that I hadn’t heard this stuff. To be honest, it’s a loteasier to be a kid and to let my parents take care of the details. Expectations from God are the last thing I thought I would have to face right now.” Lindsay stopped talking even though she felt like she had more to say. She was conflicted.
“Thank you so much for your honesty,” Steve encouraged her. “The reason that you feel so much conflict over this is that your spirit is at war with your flesh. That means that your heart, the part that the Holy Spirit leads, is fighting a battle with the human side of you, the side that Lindsay leads. Believe it or not, it’s a good thing. We are told in Galatians, chapter 5, verse 17, ‘For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.’ Jesus knows that we fight that battle with our humanity, and He encourages us to be victorious through Him. The problem is that it’s not just a one-time victory and then it’s settled. It’s a daily struggle that we must fight. We have to surrender our wills and our desires to Him and choose each day to follow Him.”
“Yes,” Lindsay jumped in, “that battle you’retalking about, that’s exactly how I feel. But I know that I want to serve Jesus and I want to do what He asks me to, but I worry that sometimes I just won’t be good
Similar Books
