Student Devotion Session 4: Vertical Worship

Key Verse:

Psalm 103:1-12

New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 103

Of David.

¹ Praise the LORD, my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the LORD, my soul,
and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Devotion:

Actions. Reactions.

Webster's defines the word action as "a thing done." An action can be anything, right? Standing up, throwing a paper airplane, or texting a friend are all actions. It's simple, really. Anything you do can be considered an action.

On the other hand, a reaction is defined as" a response to some treatment, situation, or stimulus." Basically, a reaction is a response to any action. Want some examples? Think about the actions we listed above. If you were to suddenly stand up in the middle of a nice dinner with your boyfriend or girlfriend, he or she might react with confusion. (or they might look at you like you've lost it.) If you were to throw a paper airplane in the hallway and hit your principle in the eye, his or her reaction would probably spell trouble for you. And if you were texting your friend to tell her that your crush just asked you to the homecoming dance, here reaction would be excitement.

The nature of the reaction depends on the nature of the action.

Read Psalm 103:1-12. This is one of the many Psalms written by David. You know David. The guy that killed the giant. The one who had to hide out from King Saul while Saul tried to kill him. The one who was said to have a "heart like God's." David was an awesome king, undoubtedly the best ruler Israel ever had. He wasn't perfect (You might remember the whole Bathsheba incident.) But he Loved the Lord. And many of his psalms reflect this Love.

If you go back and look at this psalm one more time, you realize something pretty cool. This psalm is all about actions and reactions. David lists some of the amazing things God has done, not just for David, but for the nation of Israel. David says that God forgives sin, heals diseases, satisfies desires, works righteousness for the oppressed, gives freely of His compassion while patiently doling out His anger, and so on, and so on. These are some pretty awesome actions. But what is the reaction?

David makes it clear: His reaction to all of God's actions is to lift up praise and worship to God. The appropriate reaction to God's Love is Love in return. How cool is that?

You have to ask yourself this question: "How have I been responding to all the ways God has shown me love in my life?" If your answer is anything less than giving God the praise He is due, you might need to spend some time examining your heart.

God had done so much for you. His actions demonstrate His Love. Does your reaction demonstrate praise?

Student Devotion Session 2: Love's Great Sacrifice

Key Verses: Deuteronomy 6:5, "Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." & Leviticus 19:18, "Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD"

The books of Matthew, Mark and Luke all tell a similar story. In each of these books, Jesus is in the company of some of the Jewish religious leaders.

In Matthew and Mark's account, Jesus was asked by one of the Jewish religious leaders what the greatest commandment of the Law was. This guy was trying to trick Jesus, but Jesus turned it around on him.

Jesus actually answered in an amazing way. If he had answered incorrectly, or had given an answer that wasn't well thought out, the Jewish leaders could have accused Him of trying to abolish parts of the Law.

A lot was riding on Jesus' answer.

Before you go on, stop for a minute and read Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. Sum up those passages in one sentence.

We might not get it now, some 2,000 years later, but at the time what Jesus did by putting these two commandments together was a big, big deal.

In answering the Jewish leaders this way, Jesus combined the emphasis of the first half of the Ten Commandments (obligation to God) with the second half (obligation to others). But Jesus did more than that...

Look back at Matthew 22. Compare verse 37 with verse 39. Circle the powerful word appears in both verses. Did you catch it? You should have circled the world Love.

The most amazing thing Jesus did was make His answer all about love. It wasn't about rule following. It wasn't about stale religion. Jesus said we mu;st love God, and love people.

Love God. Love People.

It really is that simple.

Think about any changes you might need to make in your life to begin to show more love and thankfulness to God. Think about any attitudes or issues you have that get in the way of loving others. Now, pray to God that He will help you put into practice the changes you need to make in your life.

Student Devotion Session 2: Love's Great Sacrifice

Key Verse: 1 John 4:9-10, " 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."

How far would you go to demonstrate your Love for someone? If your first thought was, "Depends on who were talking about," then you're probably like most people. After all, you Love people differently, don't you? Think of your distant cousin you only see once every few years. Your Love for him or her is different than your Love for, say, your mom, right? The lengths you would go to show your Love for your mom probably a lot greater than the lengths you would go to show your Love for your cousin. You'd give up a kidney for mom. For cousin whatshername? Uh... not so much.

Read 1 John 4:9-10. We're back with our good friend John the Apostle. As we mentioned in last session's devotion, John knew Jesus as intimately as anyone. He was one of Jesus' most trusted disciples. In fact, John was known as "the beloved disciple." As much as anyone, John grasped the significance of Jesus' identity and His mission. John knew that God sent Jesus to this world. John knew Jesus was God's most precious gift to His creation.

Why was Jesus such a precious gift? Because Jesus was God's answer to the question of how we as humans could once-and-for-all pay our sin-debt. You see, God is perfectly good. Any sin is a sin against Him and His standards. God is also perfectly just. And all sin must be punished. If God didn't punish all sin, He wouldn't be worth our devotion. God sent Jesus to pay the debt for our sins, clearing the way for us to have eternal fellowship with God.

How far would you go to demonstrate your Love for someone? Not as far as God did to demonstrate His Love for you. God sent His only son to die for you. And Jesus willingly obeyed. Why? Because God loves you. Jesus loves you. Even when you are unlovable. That is amazing love!

Student Devotion Session 1: The Source

Key Verses: 1 John 4:7-8, "⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Think for a moment about a glass of water. If you had to identify the most essential property of water, what would it be? You would probably say, "The essential property of water is its wetness."

Think about fire. What would you say was its essential property? While you might list a few different things, fire's essential property would have to be "heat."

Sugar is sweet. Ice is cold. Water is wet. Fire is hot. And God... Well, God is Love.

Read 1 John 4:7-8. John knew a thing or two about Love. John was one of the Jesus' closest companions. Along with Peter and James, John was in the "inner circle" of disciples, a group that Jesus went to great lengths to teach and mentor. John was there at nearly every important episode in Jesus' life. John understood Jesus and His message of love and redemption. So when John says "God is Love," we ought to pay attention.

There are a lot of things we could say about God. He has so many wonderful attributes that make Him worthy of our praise, love, and devotion. He is perfectly wise, powerful, good, just, forgiving, merciful, holy, compassionate... the list goes on. If you think of God and His attributes as an ever-flowing, eternal river that runs throughout time and history, the source of that river must surely be His LOVE.

If you know God, you know LOVE.
God is the source of all LOVE!

Student Devotion Session 6: Isaiah's Response

Key Verse: Isaiah 6:8, "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Student Devotion Session 5: Jonah's Response

Key Verses: Jonah 1:1-4; 3:1-6; 4:1-3

Jonah 1:1-4

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 1

Jonah Flees From the LORD

¹ The word of the LORD came to Jonah son of Amittai: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”

³ But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD.

⁴ Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up.

Jonah 3:1-6

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 3

Jonah Goes to Nineveh

¹ Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: ² “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.”

³ Jonah obeyed the word of the LORD and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. ⁴ Jonah began by going a day’s journey into the city, proclaiming, “Forty more days and Nineveh will be overthrown.” ⁵ The Ninevites believed God. A fast was proclaimed, and all of them, from the greatest to the least, put on sackcloth.

⁶ When Jonah’s warning reached the king of Nineveh, he rose from his throne, took off his royal robes, covered himself with sackcloth and sat down in the dust.

Jonah 4:1-3

New International Version (NIV)

Jonah 4

Jonah’s Anger at the LORD’s Compassion

¹ But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. ² He prayed to the LORD, “Isn’t this what I said, LORD, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. ³ Now, LORD, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”

Devotion:

When people ask you to do something, your response says a great deal about your relationship with them. Do you say, "yes" and agree to what is asked? Or do you say, "no"? It depends, right? If it's your mom or dad asking you to take out the trash, you will more than likely say, "yes." The reasons for this can range from respect to fear of punishment. But even fear of punishment says something about your relationship. You know your mom or dad is going to follow through with any threat of punishment. Again, your response depends on your relationship.

Read Jonah 1:1-4; 3:1-6; 4:1-3. This is not the whole story of Jonah. It is a record of his responses to God. You know the story of Jonah. God called Jonah to minister to Nineveh. What happened next isn't pretty. Jonah fled. Storm rolls in. Jonah goes overboard. Fish swallows. Fish throws up. Jonah heads to Nineveh. Jonah would inevitably do the work God wanted him to. But not after experiencing some harsh consequences. And not without a bad attitude.

Think about Jonah's responses. Is it true that something about his response speaks to his relationship with God? That would seem to be the case. See, Jonah put his needs first. This says that Jonah valued his own insecurities and fears more than he valued his service for God. While Jonah, eventually got it right, he still managed to get it wrong in the end through selfish thinking.

God is constantly calling you... through His word, through His creation, through His spirit, and through others. How are you responding to His call? How does a positive response communicate your love for Him? How does a negative response affect your usability for God's work?

Challenge yourself to commit to a positive, immediate response to God's call on your life. How can you be making a difference for Christ today?

Student Devotion Session 4: Not a Timid Response

Key Verses:

Acts 25:23-26:32

New International Version (NIV)

Paul Before Agrippa

²³ The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the city. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in. ²⁴ Festus said: “King Agrippa, and all who are present with us, you see this man! The whole Jewish community has petitioned me about him in Jerusalem and here in Caesarea, shouting that he ought not to live any longer. ²⁵ I found he had done nothing deserving of death, but because he made his appeal to the Emperor I decided to send him to Rome. ²⁶ But I have nothing definite to write to His Majesty about him. Therefore I have brought him before all of you, and especially before you, King Agrippa, so that as a result of this investigation I may have something to write. ²⁷For I think it is unreasonable to send a prisoner on to Rome without specifying the charges against him.”

Acts 26

¹ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “You have permission to speak for yourself.”

So Paul motioned with his hand and began his defense: ²“King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today as I make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews, ³ and especially so because you are well acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. Therefore, I beg you to listen to me patiently.

⁴ “The Jewish people all know the way I have lived ever since I was a child, from the beginning of my life in my own country, and also in Jerusalem. ⁵ They have known me for a long time and can testify, if they are willing, that I conformed to the strictest sect of our religion, living as a Pharisee. ⁶ And now it is because of my hope in what God has promised our ancestors that I am on trial today. ⁷ This is the promise our twelve tribes are hoping to see fulfilled as they earnestly serve God day and night. King Agrippa, it is because of this hope that these Jews are accusing me. ⁸ Why should any of you consider it incredible that God raises the dead?

⁹ “I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. ¹⁰ And that is just what I did in Jerusalem. On the authority of the chief priests I put many of the Lord’s people in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them. ¹¹ Many a time I went from one synagogue to another to have them punished, and I tried to force them to blaspheme. I was so obsessed with persecuting them that I even hunted them down in foreign cities.

¹² “On one of these journeys I was going to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. ¹³ About noon, King Agrippa, as I was on the road, I saw a light from heaven, brighter than the sun, blazing around me and my companions. ¹⁴ We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice saying to me in Aramaic,^[a] ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’

¹⁵ “Then I asked, ‘Who are you, Lord?’

“ ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ the Lord replied. ¹⁶‘Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. ¹⁷ I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them ¹⁸ to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’

¹⁹ “So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. ²⁰ First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds. ²¹ That is why some Jews seized me in the temple courts and tried to kill me.²² But God has helped me to this very day; so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen— ²³ that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles.”

²⁴ At this point Festus interrupted Paul’s defense. “You are out of your mind, Paul!” he shouted. “Your great learning is driving you insane.”

²⁵ “I am not insane, most excellent Festus,” Paul replied. “What I am saying is true and reasonable. ²⁶ The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. ²⁷ King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do.”

²⁸ Then Agrippa said to Paul, “Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?”

²⁹ Paul replied, “Short time or long—I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”

³⁰ The king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. ³¹ After they left the room, they began saying to one another, “This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment.”

³² Agrippa said to Festus, “This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.”

Think for a moment about the brakes on your car. It's probably the first time you've thought about them in a while... maybe ever. And that's exactly the point. Your brakes are pretty important. They are not just important to the function of your life. After all, when you go flying down the Interstate, at some point you'll need to stop. And unless you want that stop to be the result of a horrific crash, brakes come in handy.

Whether you think about it or not, you place your life's security in the brakes of your car over and over again. You probably don't think of that when you apply pressure on the left pedal. You simply trust that they'll work. Because of this, you have the confidence to drive at very high rates of speed.

Keep this example in your head as you read Acts 25:32-Acts 26:32. (Yeah, it seems like a lot to read, but it's a really cool story.) This story is one of the last chapters in the record we have of Paul's life. Paul had been arrested and was being taken before various Roman officials as part of his trial process. In this passage, Paul is speaking in front of King Agrippa and his sister Bernice.

Think back to what you just read in Acts. Think about how Paul conducted himself. Isn't it amazing how boldly he stood up to Agrippa? Paul didn't miss a beat. He preached to this powerful King as if he were just another guy. How could Paul be so courageous in that situation?

As Christ-followers, when we know the certainty of God's call on our lives, our responses to God become automatic. We don't think, we react.
This certainty allows us to move with God, acting and speaking as He leads us. In the same way you don't often think about the brakes in your car, our response to God should be just as automatic.

When we see a stop sign, we press the brakes and stop. Every time. Often without thinking. When we see an opportunity to make a difference for Christ, we should respond immediately. Every time. God expects us to join Him and time there is a need. Do you live like Paul? Are you fearless? Do you respond when the opportunity arises?

Student Devotion Session 2: As You Go...

Key Verse: John 4:10, "Jesus answered her, 'If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.'”

Opportunity.

Think about that word for second or two. What meanings come to mind? Maybe it means something kind of like good luck, or good fortune. Like, "Jenny's car broke down, giving me the opportunity to be the hero and offer her a ride home." Or maybe it brings to mind the positive possibilities of the future... as in, "Going to college increases the potential for a meaningful job opportunity."

The truth is that both of these meanings are important-especially when it comes to living out God's call to be on mission with Him. Opportunity to make a difference is all around you. And living on mission for God provides you with ample opportunity for impacting the world.

But there is one important thing about opportunity worth mentioning: An opportunity must either be seized or missed. To seize an opportunity is to realize the potential of the moment. To not seize an opportunity is to miss it. Any potential is then lost.

Keep this idea in mind as you read John 4:1-26. That sounds like a lot of scripture to read, but it flows quickly. Why? Because this passage is an amazing retelling of an encounter Jesus had with a woman. But not just any woman. This woman was a Samaritan, and Jesus was a Jew. Why does that matter? Well, Samaritans and Jews literally hated one another. That is one reason Jesus' conservation was so shocking to this woman. The other reason was because during the course of their conservation, the woman figured out that Jesus was the Son of God. Which, you know, is a pretty shocking thing to realize.

Jesus' conservation with the Samaritan woman led to many in her town coming to a saving faith in Jesus Christ. This couldn't have happened if Jesus had not seized the opportunity to have a meaningful, life-on-life interaction with this woman.

Jesus commanded His followers to live life on His mission. But He did more than that. He followed it up with His actions. Jesus practiced what He preached.

Do you seize opportunities to impact the world in Christ's name? Or do you let them pass by you? What will it take for you to become more committed to using your life to make a difference for Jesus? Pray to God today, asking Him to give you the strength to make the best of the opportunities He puts in your path.

Student Devotion Session 1: What is the Call?

Key Verse: Matthew 16:24-26, "²⁴ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it. ²⁶ What good will it be for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul?"

Dale Earnhardt Jr., Richard "Rip" Hamilton, LeBron James. What do these celebrities have in common? Each of these athletes surrounds himself with a tight-knit circle of followers. The key to each of these groups is that it is made up of people who have known each other since childhood. When Rip Hamilton made it big in the NBA, his group of friends from his neighborhood made it big with him. When Dale Jr. is at home taking a break from NASCAR, he is usually with his group of childhood friends. LeBron James is a little different; his friends actually form a management group that handles much of his business ventures.

While they may differ somewhat, one thing is true: for the friends of these celebrities, being a follower has its benefits. Life as LeBron's business manager is probably better than working a regular nine to five job, right?

Read Matthew 16:24-26. Jesus had a lot to say about being a follower. He did not promise fame. He did not promise fortune. He did not promise comfort. But look at what He did promise: "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

There are two truths in this scripture passage worth mentioning. First, Jesus absolutely, positively commands that we follow Him. There is no other way around it. Christ does not desire your lukewarm commitment. He expects 100 percent of your devotion. Second, He expects your devotion knowing full well the cost of following Him. Jesus knows your road will be tough. He knows following Him is not easy. So, why does He still command us to be His disciples?

The answer is easy: Jesus knows that following Him leads to life... Life free from the penalty of sin... Life free from the power of death. Jesus longs for you to follow after Him, and to lead others to do the same.

While it might not have the same privileges of this world, following Jesus does have its benefits. So... what are you waiting for?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Six - Sharing His Glory

Key Verse: Psalm 96:1-13, "¹ Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth.
² Sing to the LORD, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. ³ Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. ⁴ For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. ⁵ For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. ⁶ Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. ⁷ Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. ⁸ Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. ⁹ Worship the LORD in the splendor of his^[a] holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. ¹⁰ Say among the nations, “The LORD reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. ¹¹ Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. ¹² Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. ¹³ Let all creation rejoice before the LORD, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness."

What's the difference between the burrito at your favorite Mexican restaurant and the shady microwaveable ones you buy by the bag-full from the freezer section of your local grocery store? It's the same exact difference between a feature length movie released in theaters and a bootlegged version downloaded from the web. There's just something different about the real thing isn't there?

More often than not, the authentic original article is worth the extra money, time or energy that separates it from a knock-off variety. Whether it's clothes, cars, or food, the real thing earns our praise while the sub-par versions usually serve as a punch line in a joke.

God is the same way. What? Seriously...Keep reading.

Read Psalm 96:1-13. It immediately becomes obvious that the psalm is an amazing testimony of praise of God. The Israelites lived in a world much like ours in at least one significant way: They were surrounded by a culture that embraced multiple gods and religions. So, in a way, the psalmist was saying that God was worthy to be praised because He is the real thing! Not some impostor, God really is "the God who made the heavens." God is righteous and will judge the nations. Because of this, the psalmist says He is "most worthy of praise." (verse 4).

Part of following Christ is living your life in such a way that you are constantly giving praise to God. Your actions, words, inner thoughts, and outward emotions should reflect a worldview that is influenced by your love for God and for His Son. When you live this way, you will actually lead others to recognize God's greatness.

Your life can be a testimony to God's glory. After all, He's the real deal, worth every bit of your praise and service.

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Five - The Mission's Cost

Key Verse: John 12:23-26, "²³ Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. ²⁴ Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. ²⁵ Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. ²⁶ Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me."

Take a moment and think about the answer to the following questions:

What do you hold most dearly? What is the one thing you value about all else? What is the one specific thing you hold on to most?

Don't move on without stopping for a moment and thinking about your answers.

Got it? How did you respond? Did your answer take the form of an object, such as your i-phone, your electric guitar, your laptop, or your car? Or maybe your answer took the form of a relationship; maybe the thing you value the most is your parent or parents, your siblings, or maybe even your best friend. However you responded, hopefully you were able to think of one thing you particularly value above all else.

Your answer to the question "What do you hold most dearly?" actually reveals a lot about your priorities. It may not seem like it at first, but your answer says a lot about how you view the world. Keep that though in mind as we pause for a moment.

Stop and read John 12:23-26. Jesus was in Jerusalem for a special celebration called the Passover Feast. The passover celebrated the Lord delivering the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Shortly before this passage, Jesus' followers had heaped praises on Him as he entered the city. Yet, Jesus knew His time was drawing to an end. In this passage, Jesus' words let us know that He knew exactly the sacrifice He would soon make on the cross.

Look back at verses 25-26. Jesus basically says we cannot follow Him if the thing we hold most dear is our own life. Jesus is helping His followers (and that includes you) understand that their lives should be totally committed to God literally! You should view your life as if it belonged to God. You should treat your life as something that is to be given over, sacrificed for God to use and direct in order to draw glory to Himself.

You cannot follow God if you hold too dearly to this life. To be the greatest credit to God's Kingdom you should view your relationship with Christ as most important, above all else in your life. Only then will you be able to fully embrace your role as a part of His mission.

How can you begin to let go of your life, giving yourself over to God to be used as He sees fit?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Four - Called and Sent

Key Verse: Acts 7:57-8:4

^"57 At this they covered their ears and, yelling at the top of their voices, they all rushed at him, ⁵⁸ dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. Meanwhile, the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. ⁵⁹ While they were stoning him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” ⁶⁰ Then he fell on his knees and cried out, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” When he had said this, he fell asleep. ¹ And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria. ² Godly men buried Stephen and mourned deeply for him. ³ But Saul began to destroy the church. Going from house to house, he dragged off both men and women and put them in prison. ⁴ Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went"

When you think about "being sent" by God on mission with Him, what do you think about? Do you think about missionaries working in far away exotic places? Do you think about people who leave their careers to start churches? Do you think about short-term mission trips like the ones your youth group probably takes? While these are certainly all examples of being sent, it's important for you to understand that being sent out on mission with God doesn't just mean moving to another country or planting churches.

There's more to being called and sent out than organized mission experiences. You can be sent out in the simplest of ways. For example:

Take a second and read Acts 7:57-8:4. Now, you are picking up at the end of a long story. Stephen, a member of the early Jerusalem Church and a Christ-follower, was testifying to the true identity of Jesus before one of the Jewish courts. The Jews were so furious at Stephen for claiming Jesus was the Song of God that they dragged Stephen out and killed him. That's what you read about in verse 57. Stephen boldly spoke the truth about Christ no matter the cost. But that's not where I want you to pay attention.

Focus on Acts 8:4. Paul and the other anti-Christian Jews were running these Christ-followers out of Jerusalem. Yet, verse 4 gives us a glimpse of the character in these individuals. These followers of Christ didn't allow persecution to keep them from carrying out God's mission. As they were forced out of Jerusalem, they continued to share with others about all Jesus was doing. That's pretty amazing, isn't it?

These believers found themselves in a circumstance they could not control. You probably find yourself in these types of situations often. After all, you don't have a lot of choice about going to school do you? While you're there, why don't you treat your school like a mission experience? Consider what it looks like to be called by God and sent to your school as a light for God's kingdom.

You don't have to go to a far away country. The biggest opportunity you have is right in front of you each and every day. Don't miss your chance!

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Three - Christ's Commission

Key Verse: Matthew 3:16-17, "¹⁶ As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Chances are, if you're reading this you're a teenager. And if you're a teenager, you're actually in a pretty cool time of your life. While it's hard to see it, now, you are doing things that will shape your future, long after your teenage years over. Many of the decisions you make in the next, few years will affect the path you choose after high school, which, in most cases, affects your career, who you will marry, where you will live...Big decisions right?

The coolest thing is that you will reach a point, years down the road when you can look back and identify the truly important moments in your life. You will be able to point to two or three moments as the ones that really jump-started the process of shaping the person you will have become.

Believe it or not, Jesus had one of these moments. Read Matthew 3:11-17. This passage is Matthew's version of Jesus' baptism. At the beginning, you see John the Baptist talking about the coming Messiah, God's Son who will take away the sins of the world. All of a sudden, Jesus is on the scene. John realizes Jesus is the promised Messiah while John is initially hesitant to baptize Jesus, he agrees and Jesus is baptized.

Go back and read verses 16 and 17 again. This is the reason God desired for Jesus to be baptized. Most people in John's day were baptized as a way of symbolizing their repentance from sin. Jesus was perfect, therefore He did not need to symbolize repentance So why be baptized? Verses 16 and 17 tell us Jesus' baptism was God's way of showing the world that the time of Jesus' ministry had begun.

Notice the two things that happened: the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus, anointing Him for God's work. And God validated Jesus' identity and mission by audibly recognizing Jesus as His Son. So, as we look back at Jesus' life and ministry. His baptism was one of those monumentally important moments that shaped His life to come. Looking back, it was the start of His true purpose and mission on this earth.

You will these moments, too. Moments where God uses you. Moments you will look back on and realize how important they were to your overall spiritual development.

The real question is, will you be ready when your moment comes?

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session Two - The Great Commission

Key Verse: Matthew 9:35-38, "³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Do you see him over there? The old man by the trashcan with his head resting against the wall. See him? No...don't bother him; he's sleeping. Just watch. Watch what's about to happen...

See that woman walking towards him? The one on her cell phone? Yeah, her. She walks past here every morning. And he's usually there. The truth is that she's not really on her cell phone. She's faking it so she doesn't have to look at him. When he asks her for change or for food it makes her so uncomfortable. So today she's pretending to talk on her phone so he won't bother her.

Now, look again. See the teenaged girl with the torn jeans coming this way? Her name's Cassie. She's pretty, don't you think? Well, the truth about Cassie's life isn't pretty at all. Her dad's a drunk. He took-off a couple of years ago. Her mom works so much Cassie hardly sees her. Most days Cassie's barely holding it together, herself. But watch what she does when as she nears the old man. See her reaching into her bag? She's pulling out a blanket she brought from home. See, she passed by the old man yesterday and noticed he was shivering. So today she brought him a blanket.

See how she drapes it over him? Soft, so as not to wake him. Watch her lift his hand and put it under the blanket so he'll be warmer. See how she stares at him before she walks off? Makes you wonder what she is thinking...

What if I told you she was praying? She prays for him a lot, actually. She doesn't know his name. He doesn't know her either. But she prays for him. She prays that God would keep him safe. That he would know someone cares for him. That he would know Jesus cares for him. That he would know she care for him.

And there goes Cassie...Off to who knows where.

Cassie doesn't have all the answers. And she doesn't make all the right choices. But she tries. And she cares. She cares for the lost, the sick, the lonely, the outcast, the broken-hearted. Cassie cares for those forgotten.

Why?

Because she loves Jesus. And Jesus care for the forgotten, too.

Smithfield Student Ministry Weekly Devotion Session One - God's Global Mission

Key Verse: Psalm 67: 1-7, "May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us—so that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him."

If you've had the fortune/curse of putting together a complex piece of furniture (or watched as your mom or dad struggled through it), you know how important the plans are. If you miss even one step, the whole thing may fall apart. There's nothing more frustrating than getting to the end of a project only to find you put something on backwards or upside down.

The stakes are higher if you help another person put something together. Not only do you have to make sure you're both on the same page, there's the added pressure of building something for someone else. You want to make sure you do a good job as they will be happy with their new creation.

While we don't actually know who wrote this psalm, it's safe to say they were thankful for God's blessing. This psalm seems to be more of a prayer than a hymn and while songs or prayers like this were usually sung after successful harvests, this psalm has a deeper message.

God read verse 1 again and think to yourself how you might summarize it in one sentence. A good summary might read something like, "The psalmist is praying for God's good favor, or blessing" simple enough. Now there's the cool part. Read verse 2 and again, think how you might summarize it in one sentence. You might have come up with something similar to, "The psalmist want all the people of the world to know of God and His ways." Put these two verses together and an awesome picture appears.

The psalmist wants God to bless him and his people. But this petition for blessing is not out of a selfish desire, it's so that others might see the Blessings God has poured out, give God glory for these blessings, and desire to be similarly blessed. The goal of the psalmist's prayer is so God would be glorified.

When you build a piece of furniture or fix a bike, you have to follow a plan. A set of rules. A guide that has the big picture in mind. God's mission to reach the world is the same way. He has a plan. And the coolest part is that you play a major role in His plan. He has chosen you, your friends, your church, and all Christ-followers everywhere to be one of the main ways God spreads His story of love, grace, and redemption. Do you take this responsibility seriously? Do you live in such a way that your life follows God's plan to share His love with all the world? What changes do you need to make today in order to be on mission with God in all that you do?

Student Devotion Week 48: The Church Eternal: The New Jerusalem

Key Verse: 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

Harps, clouds, and white-lots of white. That's the picture most of us have when we think about heaven. To be honest, heaven has always seemed kind of gaudy to me. I mean...pearly gates and streets of gold? If this is our picture of heaven, then it's not going to be much of a motivational factor in the life of the Church. Who wants to go to a place where you have to sit in a choir loft for all eternity?

The truth is that heaven is going to be a place more magnificent than your wildest dreams. The Bible says that when Christ returns and takes us home, he's going to make everything new. All the pain and frustration we deal with now-and all the things that cause them-will be gone. Can you imagine what it will be like to not have to deal with sin anymore, to never have to wrestle with your thoughts again, to live in a place where you can see Jesus with your very own eyes?

If heaven seems boring to you, then you don't have a very clear picture of it. This week we're going to look at the eternal future of the Church. We're going to have to use our imaginations, but the Holy Spirit has given us some guidelines in Scripture to help us understand a place that's so amazing we don't even have the words to describe it.

Student Devotion Week 46: The Church Prepared: John's Vision

Key Verse: "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Have you ever seen a dead church? It's kind of depressing. I know of one. It's small, and the cemetery next to it is the only part that still gets visitors. Through an open doorway, you can see the pews and the place where the pulpit used to be. Those windows might have once held stained glass, but the church is dead. No one meets there anymore, and who knows what happened to the people. It's a sad commentary, but it ought to remind us of the spiritual battle we're all involved in. It should also make us perk up and stay alert to Satan's plans to destroy us however he can.

Jesus will never abandon a church without a fight. The book of Revelation is about a vision John had while exiled on the island of Patmos. Through this vision a message was sent to seven churches, challenging and encouraging them to stand firm. The stakes were huge; they could have lost it all or gained a crown of glory.

Jesus is returning one day, and he'll do everything he can to make sure we're prepared before he comes. That means he sometimes has to tell us things that are hard to hear, but it's for our own good. And when we obey his commands, we can be confident that he'll bring about all he's promised. This week we're going to examine what Jesus said to those seven churches-and find out how we can protect our own.

Student Devotion Week 46: Your Role: Peter and the Priesthood of Believers

Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:9, " But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light."

I don't know how your family does it, but in order to accommodate all the people at my family's Thanksgiving, we had a kiddie table for anyone under 18. I never liked the kiddie table. I felt I was missing out on everything just because I wasn't old enough. All I wanted was to be a big person.

I'm sure the Old Testament Jews also felt this way since almost non of them were allowed in the Temple. It wasn't that they weren't old enough; they weren't holy enough. Only the priests could go before God.

This week we're going to consider an important Christian belief called the priesthood of the believer." It means that when you become a Christian, you become a priest of sorts. Instead of there being only a few priests who go before God for us, as believers in Jesus we all get full access to God. In the early Church, Peter was the one everyone looked to for spiritual guidance. But he was adamant about helping people understand that he wasn't the only one who could communicate with God. We all can listen and talk to God through Jesus Christ. Together we're all a "holy priesthood."

Student Devotion Week 45: Every Opportunity: Paul Preaches in Prison

Key Verse: Acts 28:28, "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

God uses us in amazing ways, and many times we don't even see it coming. A few years ago I was preaching at a summer camp on a college campus. One night I went backstage to help counsel the students who responded to the invitation to become Christians. But I stopped in the restroom on way. As I entered the bathroom, a young guy followed me. After a few awkward pleasantries, he said, "I've never really been saved before." He told me this in the bathroom. (I definitely didn't see that one coming!) So, after we walked out of the restroom, I had the privilege of introducing him to Christ.

When we left Paul last week, he was just getting to Rome. In Acts 28 we find out that, just as before, Paul was going to be in jail for a long time. For some people this would've been a huge letdown. But for Paul? No problem. He didn't allow pesky details like imprisonment keep him from faithfully sharing the gospel every day.

Opportunities to serve and share Christ are everywhere. The trick is learning to see them. Once we realize that we can literally serve Christ 24/7, things get interesting. This week we're going to try to follow Paul's lead and learn how to take advantage of every opportunity we find to serve Christ.

Student Devotion Week 44: An Indirect Path: Paul Sails For Rome

Key Verse: Acts 27:43, "But the centurion wanted to spare Paul's life and kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and get to land."

Carnivals are fun. As a kid I looked forward to going to the carnival every year because I'd get to ride the Scrambler. Have you ever ridden the Scrambler? It flings you left and right, back and forth, all while moving in a huge circle. It was fun... unless you'd eaten a funnel cake right before you got on.

Often our Christian journey resembles the Scrambler. You expect it to be a calm journey that moves predictably from one stage to the next. But what you actually get is a sudden move to the left, then to the right, then forward, then backward.

In Acts 27:27-28:6 Paul went through a journey sort of like this. Amazingly, he endures a huge storm, a shipwreck, and a snake attack. Paul thought Rome would be his big obstacle, only to find that his journey to get there would be just as eventful. But God was in control, and God is in control even when we can't discern the reasons for our trouble. Our job is to stick close to God, hold on tight, and trust him even though we don't always understand where we're going.

Through it all, we can serve Christ along the way. So get ready, your Christian journey might be a lot more exciting than you thought. Oh, and you might want to skip that funnel cake.

Student Devotion Week 43: Testimony in Chains: Paul's Arrest

Key Verse: Acts 26:29, "Paul replied, 'Short time or long-I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."

Joni Eareckson Tada has on e of those stories that just amazes. After a diving accident left her a quadriplegic at age 17, Joni found herself facing a life much different than the one she thought she was going to live. Yet her disability wasn't strong enough to keep her from serving Christ. She's written more than 30 books and traveled to more than 40 countries. She's also a sought-after speaker, as well as an advocate for the disabled. It probably wasn't the life Joni had in mind when she was a teenager, but her ministry has reached millions.

When we find ourselves in difficult circumstances that force us to change our plans, we have two choices. We can either choose to give up, or we can choose to continue to serve Christ-no matter what.

When faced with a particularly difficult time, the apostle Paul chose to serve Christ. In Acts 24 through 26, we find the story of Paul's imprisonment and trails. Paul could have given up at any point-he faced some pretty tough circumstances. But he stayed true to his calling and continued to preach the message of Jesus Christ. Paul couldn't see the future, but he knew God had plans for him-even in jail. How would you have responded?

This week we're going to face on of the hardest questions of life: How do we serve God when things don't go our way?

Student Devotion Week 42: Equipping For Ministry: Letter To The Ephesians (Part 2 of 2)

Ephesians 4:15, "Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ."

I didn't enjoy a particular high school English class. My teacher always made me revise my essays. She was never satisfied with my first tries, and she rarely gave out compliments. Ugh! I don't even like thinking about it. But looking back years later, I now have to say that it was probably one of the best teachers I ever had. Why? Because she actually challenged me to learn something-and I did. In fact, I learned a lot.

Teachers aren't there to be our buddies but to make sure we learn things we may not even want to learn. Without them, we'd never become the people God wants us to be.

Still writing from prison, Paul tried to help the Ephesians understand the different kinds of leadership in the church. He was helping them see that certain people were called to teach them and to lead them. If they were going to grow in faith, then they'd have to follow these people and work toward growing as Christians.

We tend to view learning from our church leaders in the same way I viewed learning from my English teacher: "Do I have to do this?" How many sermons have we dutifully sat through without actually learning anything? But if we submit to doing the work, then we'll find we can accomplish more than before. This week we're going to look at how our pastors and teachers help equip us for life.

Student Devotion Week 41: One In Christ: Letter to the Ephesians (Part 1 of 2)

Key Verse: Ephesians 2:19, "Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household."

Have yo ever wondered how you ended up in your family? I've wondered that about my family. I'm completely different from my parents, and I'm also fairly different from my brother. So how did we all get thrown together? We do have one major thing in common: Our last name. Whether we like it or not, we're all in the same family. And as different as we are, we have the same blood linking us.

The same is true for the Church. The New Testament church was made up of an assortment of very different kinds of people who had previously lived separate lives. What could possibly connect all these people? They now had the same bloodline-the blood of Jesus. Because of Jesus' sacrificial death, everyone who places their faith in Christ-regardless of their race, gender, or cultural background-is a part of the Church.

When Jesus rose from the dead, he began to build his family-the Church. And it was composed of people he loved and who love him. But the members of his family would also love each other. While imprisoned in Rome, Paul wrote a letter to the church in Ephesus to help them understand their common lineage in Christ. Through this letter Paul tried to help the Ephesians see that all people are welcomed into the church family regardless of their differences.

Student Devotion Week 40: Faithfulness at Great Cost: Paul's Parting Message To The Ephesians

Key Verse: 1 Timothy 4:7, "Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly."

I know of a youth group in which the students were in the habit of becoming very emotional during their Wednesday night service. Being emotional isn't wrong, but they seemed to get emotional for no reason. The youth minister decided to test them. So he preached an impassioned talk and then asked if any of them wanted to come forward and accept Christ. The altar area was full of students! Suddenly he stopped the service and informed the teenagers that everything he'd just told them was wrong. Not a bit of it was supported by Scripture. They'd become emotional about something that was completely fake.

This danger isn't new. At the end of his third missionary journey, Paul was headed back to Jerusalem. On the way he stopped and met with the elders of the Ephesians church. He gave a farewell speech and warned the Ephesians to beware those who preach false teachings about God. Paul wouldn't be around to protect them anymore, so they had to learn to protect themselves.

We must also be on guard against false teaching. As you continue to mature in your Christian faith, you'll probably encounter false teachers. Unless you test the teaching against Scripture, you'll find you're like that youth group: Looking spiritual but having no substance.

Student Devotion Week 39: Spiritual Opposition: The Riot In Ephesus And Paul's Third Missionary Journey

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:8, "Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour."

Whenever I think of demons, those stone gargoyles found on old buildings come to mind. They have big fangs and ugly faces, but they're definitely stone. It's kind of hard to think of something like that as being a real threat in my life. Isn't a belief in demons about as outdated as the buildings where those gargoyles sit? Surprisingly, no. Demons are real, and they take every opportunity to stand in your way spiritually.

In Acts 19:21-41 Paul and his fellow travelers faced some pretty significant opposition. But look closer. The real reason behind the opposition was spiritual; these people were worshipers of a false god. They wanted nothing more than to be rid of Paul and his companions-by any means necessary.

You may not have to deal with physical opposition, but you'll definitely have to deal with spiritual warfare. You're in for it whether you like it or not. But how do you fight an invisible enemy, and what do spiritual battles feel like?

This week we're going to look at the invisible war Christians fight and hopefully find answers to some of your questions. Try to see beyond the visible this week and recognize what's really happening in the spiritual realm.

Student Devotional Week 38: Giving: Paul's Instructions To The Corinthian Church

Key Verse: 2 Corinthians 9:7, "Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

Bono, lead singer of the band U2, once said during a song, "The God I believe in isn't short of cash." He was criticizing phony TV preachers for stealing money from unsuspecting people. Lots of people have the same feeling. I meet people all the time who assume the only thing the church is after is their money. But Bono brings up a good point: If God can bless everyone, then why do we have to give-to God or to anyone else for that matter? Can't God just bless people? The answer is that it's not about the money.

We've received so much from God, it's only right that we honor him by giving some of it back. And as we give our resources away, it reminds us that the God who gave them to us in the first place will provide what we need. From cover to cover, the Bible records how people honored God by giving back to him. And we can still do this today through our local churches.

The early churches exemplified this concept of giving back to God by giving their money to help other churches that were in trouble. Paul not only taught his churches about giving, but he also gave them an opportunity to give an offering that he personally delivered to the Jerusalem church.

The generosity of the early churches is an example we follow today. This week we're going to look at why we need to give God our time, energy, and money.

Student Devotional Week 37: Spiritual Gifts: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 4 of 4)

Key Verse: 1 Corinthians 12:11, "All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines."

Maybe it's been a while since you put a puzzle together, but have you ever really studied a puzzle's pieces? They look like something out of a Picasso painting with their multiple legs, odd-shaped curves, and no hard edges (except for those blessed border pieces). No pieces seem identical. They all have a unique place to fill in the big picture, and the portrait won't be complete until every last one of them is in place.

God's Church is made in much the same way-as a puzzle. When you become a part of the Church, you receive a spiritual gift of some kind. One person may be given the ability to lead, another the ability to encourage, and still another the ability to make people feel welcome. No matter who you are, everyone gets a gift.

The Church functions like it's supposed to when all of us, like puzzle pieces, fit together and do our parts. Leave a piece out, and it's just not the same. Because you have this gift, you're a very important-even indispensable-part of the Church. Paul made this a top concern when he was teaching his churches so they'd understand that no one can walk alone. Churches aren't filled with spectators but with unique Christians, each with a role to play in the spiritual masterpiece of the Church.

This week we're going to look at what spiritual gifts are and how to determine which gifts you have.

Student Weekly Devotional Week 36: Communion: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 3 of 4)

Key Verse: Acts 2:32 "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact."

Little cups filled with grape juice. Little pieces of bland bread. Must be communion time again. We've all probably participated in communion, but do we actually understand what's going on? In the rituals supposedly included cannibalism-at least that's what some had to eat the body and drink the blood of Jesus. I guess to an outsider it does sound strange, but communion is an intimate and precious thing to a Christian.

Jesus asked us to regularly take part in communion. It's a continual reminder of Christ's sacrifice and constant union with us. If we don't keep this in mind, then we could miss out on the spiritual impact that communion can bring. Paul taught the churches to practice communion, but he had harsh words for those who failed to approach the communion table properly (for example, the Corinthians).

Does communion make sense to you? It's one of the church's most intensely personal traditions. This week we're going to spend some time looking at what happens when we take communion. Why did Jesus tell us to keep doing it? what's it about anyway? Look deep this week; there may be much more going on than you've ever imagined.

Student Devotion Week 35: Accountability: First Letter To The Corinthians (Part 2 of 4)

Key Verse: Galatians 6:1, "Brothers, if someone is caught in sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted."

I never would've survived high school without my best friends. Together we had some of the best years of our lives, but we also kept each other from straying away from Christ. We were accountable to one another.

In week 9 we figured out that if we're going to have integrity as a church, then we can't let sin go unchecked. That's easy enough when we're the problem, but it gets a little harder when we have to tell someone else what they're doing in wrong. That's where accountability comes in.

As Paul planted churches, he didn't forget about them once he left. While he traveled, he routinely kept track of them and even made return visits to make sure they stayed healthy. So when Paul found out the Corinthians were allowing sin to go unchecked, he wrote a letter to keep them accountable to their commitment to Christ.

Every now and then we'll have friends who stray off the path. When that happens, we need to be there to help them get back on the right track, just like we'll need them to help us. I know it sounds unpleasant, and it can get messy. But when we actually start holding each other accountable, you'll be surprised how much it helps your own spiritual life. Instead of dealing with sin on your own, you can tackle it with the help of your Christian friends. But it starts when we're honest about our own lives and open to listening to others when they confront us.

Ready? Let's figure out how we can hold each other accountable this week.