There are many things in human nature that I think are not how we are really supposed to be. Human nature tells us to be scared whenever we go into something we have never really done before. I really don't htink there is a point to being so scared of everything you're going to come into contact with, because when you're scared of everything, you are sure to get close to nothing accomplished. People tend to let fear control all of their actions, and when they allow fear to control what they do, they are less likely to be successful.
I used to be horrible with letting fear get the best of my situations. Be it starting relationships with other kids, or even the ever-living fear of rejection. Rejection from girls, sports, or even school stuff. We all tend to live in fear that we aren't going to be accepted into something. Whether we're accepted on the sports team we tried out for, or we're accepted by that group of people we want to hang around, or acceptance into UVA, or Virginia Tech, or Harvard. We want...No, we need acceptance. We just don't know where to turn to in order to get that kind of acceptance. We have already been accepted into the one thing that we need to live a full life.
God sent His acceptance letter in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ. This acceptance letter came to Earth, and told us all that we are greatly loved. That He knows none of them are perfect, but that God still loves them all the same. He came so that we might have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10) H came to us to save us from that. We've been accepted into Heaven, and into the body of Christ. We've finally found the place we belong. We're going home. We're coming home to Christ. He's accepting us with love, and open arms.
Now that we have been accepted, why should we have fear in the things we do? As long as what we do is in accordance to God's will, God will be with us, and as long as we faithfully serve Him, and do His will, our blessings will be as numerous as the stars. That excites me. Knowing that just by being a faithful servant to God, that we will be blessed in many different ways. I don't know about you guys, but I love God's blessings. I also love doing God's will for Him. So why wouldn't I do these things I love in order to get things that I love? It only makes sense.
One thing that is kind of off-topic, but I think is very important. The song Don't Waste Your Life, by Lecrae is such a great showcase of knowing the things that you have are not yours. In the last verse, he says "You make a lot of money? Hope you doin' it right. Cause the money is God's you better steward it right. Stay focused. You ain't got no ride? Your life ain't wrapped up in what you drive, the clothes you wear, the job you work, the color your skin, nah you Christian first" and "See your money, your singleness, marriage, talent, your time. They were loaned to you to show the world that Christ is divine." These two lines not only tell me that it's not my stuff, but that it was all given to me to let His light shine off of that. Don't take these things for granted, because they can, and will be taken away from one who squanders.
One reason I want to post this is as a reminder to myself that I don't want to be afraid to go out and be God's faithful servant. One thing that I want to do is stop being afraid to start the relationships within the school. Beginning a new relationship with someone who doesn't know Christ is probably one of the scariest things I could think of doing. It's just something that has to be done, because that's exactly what YoungLife is about. Relationships. Making relationships that you already have tighter can be scary too, because you never know how exactly it's going to affect your friendship how it is. Leap of faith my friends. Great things happen to those who take risks.
My challenge to all of you is to go and start a new relationship with someone. No matter who it is. Then make any of your existing relationships a tighter relationship. I am going to challenge myself to do the same, but I think everyone can do this. I just think there is a great degree of separation between the people who go to the same school. Or are even in the same grade. I know personally, I hate hanging out with most sophomores because they are all usually very different from me. I'm going to stop judging based on the things that they like to do, or how they talk, or the things they say. That is Young Life.
That's it. Will you accept my challenge? Or is this relationship impossible?
I love you guys.
TJ
Remember, we all stumble, every one of us. That's why it's a comfort to go hand in hand. ~Emily Kimbrough
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