got a light?

The other day I saw a teacher from my school in her car and she was smoking a cigarette. It really surprised me to see someone who I look up to so much doing something that almost anyone would say is very bad. I understand that smoking is her own life decision and really shouldn’t judge her for doing so, but it just took me aback.

James 3:1 talks about teachers, saying that not many people should become teachers because they will be judged more strictly. We tend to hold those who tell us how to act and what to do to higher standards, so it is very important that when you are in teaching positions you are careful to do and say the appropriate things.

The passage goes on to say, that we all make mistakes sometimes, but those who never mess up with their speech are perfect and have their whole body in check. We can get ourselves into a lot of trouble by just saying the wrong things.

We’ve all been told that our actions speak louder than our words, but sometimes what we say is just as important as what we do. And sometimes it’s what we don’t say that is the most important. Proverbs 17:28 says, “Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” It is very easy to be provoked by others and say things that we shouldn’t out of frustration or anger, but sometimes just holding our tongues is best.

James 3:3 likens our words to a bit, a small piece of metal put in a horse’s mouth that is attached to reins and allows the rider to steer it. Such a small device has the power to turn the whole animal, and in the same way, our words can affect all of us. They can choose our paths and have permanent effects on people, so we need to be very careful with them and think about what we want to say before actually saying it.

Answer This:

1. Have you tried to be a teacher in ways that you should not be?
2. How have you been using you words? Is this the way you should be using them?
3. When do you need to be silent instead of speaking?
4. Take some time to journal about this passage.

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Written by Hannah Pergolizzi

what a potty mouth!

Galatians 6:1-5 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. 2 Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. 3 For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. 4 But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. 5 For each will have to bear his own load.

  

Bearing Burdens

1. Those who are spiritual ought to restore those overtaken in a trespass (1)

Use the Holy (fruit of the) Spirit which is - Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. (5:22) Pray with them, pray for them, look up scripture for them. Help them get on the right path, without getting too involved. Be careful and aware. Be honest and open by sharing your own burdens.

2. Bearing one another's burdens fulfills the law of Christ (2)

Obey the Law of Christ in ALL you do.

3. If one thinks himself to be something when he is not, he deceives himself (3)

You are not their savior, you are not their healer, you are not the one who can help them; so don’t fall into the temptation of thinking you are too important. We are not that important, God can do everything perfectly without us, but He chooses to use us. So let Him use you in His ways, not your own. Pointing them to Christ is all we can do!

4. Examine your own work, and bear your own load (4-5)

Pay careful attention to what you are doing, not just the other person; for we are each responsible for our own conduct.

Hypothetically, If my fiancé, Vincent, struggles with cursing; I should step up and help him because I know that cursing is wrong, right? Yes, that is exactly what this passage is saying! Since God has allowed me to see the wrong in cursing, I am therefore able to help my brother in Christ out. How would I go about this you might ask: I would encourage him with scripture about keeping his tongue and mouth pure and holy before the Lord/not saying the Lord’s name in vain, I would pray for and with him, I would correct him in love when he stumbles with his words, I would daily ask him how he is doing with his words..(etc.) But in doing this, (bearing his burdens) I must make sure I am allowing God to protect my ears so that I do not fall into temptation of cursing just like Vincent. I cannot stand on a chair and pull him up to my level, no matter how strong I am. Just the same with faith, I cannot bring Vincent to the level of my faith if he is not there; at that point he would be the one dragging me down. I could apply this with drinking, smoking, sexual immorality, stealing, lying, cheating..(etc.) So with that warning, just be there to help, love, challenge, and encourage them; don’t try to change them because that’s God place.

1.  Do you have any friends you can reach out to with the Love of Christ?

2.  How can you help them without being dragged down with them?

3.  Or maybe you’re the one who needs this kind of friend/help? (Don’t be afraid to ask any of the leaders in youth group to help you)-- Make sure you’re seeking godly counsel for any of your struggles; the point of this passage is directing the person to Christ. If you depend on your friend for help when they are struggling with the sin too, or if they are not strong in their faith, they won’t be much of a help for you. Seek friendships/help that will only bring you closer to Christ! Matt. 7:3-5

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Written by Sarah Davis

the mayor of coffee

Galatians 5:16-24- But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

So I’m doing pretty good today: it’s about 11:00AM, I am sitting in a coffee shop sipping an incredible cup of coffee from Burundi and as much as I like this cup of coffee I have made the active choice NOT to bow down in front of it and start singing its praises. It’s really good though, so I might get tempted later. So, Im doing great at not worshiping Idols this morning. I’ve put down this cup of coffee and a breakfast burrito and nothing else really - so I am also doing pretty great at avoiding drunkenness today too. Sorcery hasn't been an issue for me all day, although if there was a spell to enable me to make coffee this good I might actually consider it. There’s a cute chick a couple tables away that has a couple interesting tattoos that keep catching my attention but so far I have been free from impure thoughts and any sexual immorality.  I have been 100% free from rivalries all day today (but I haven't spent much time on Facebook today with Drew Harkins and that trash-talking group of weak hockey players at Grace Bible). Peter, the barista, got my order perfect so I have not had any fits of anger yet today. Orgies have yet to be a temptation in my life. So, as I said, I am doing pretty good today. I haven't done any of the things on that list of stuff to avoid in that passage…   but (and this is a true story) after I sat down my friend Steve walked into the coffee shop and came over and said hi. Steve went to some things with our youth group when he was in high school and now is really connected at another church in town. He is just a really cool guy. After he says hi to me he sits down by himself and another guy jumps over to his table and start talking to him about a book he is reading, I hear them saying something about Jesus and Prayer or something… just seems like a cool conversation with someone that Steve knows. Then the door opens and the next guy says “hey Steve”, Steve knows this guy. One more comes in, 2 strangers had already sat at Steve’s table so they talked with him a little bit, and now another guy comes in and sits at Steve’s table. Meanwhile Steve has pulled out his computer, a nicer Macbook then the one I am using… it’s official : I’m jealous of Steve today. Dang it. I had been doing so good at that list, I had worked so hard at not breaking any of those things on that list, and I blew it over a friend with a cooler computer that happens to be the mayor of this coffee shop today. Oh well.

It’s pretty ridiculous to try to go through life that way right? Proud of myself for not dabbling in sorcery at all today, thats silly. Life is not about a list of things that I don’t do. This passage makes that so clear, it’s about walking by the Spirit. When we do that, then we don't have to worry about falling into that other stuff. Focus on being filled with Love and patience and kindness and God will take care of the rest.

Answer This:

1. What is something that you have worked so hard to avoid only to fall for it again and again?   What would happen if you took the opposite approach and first tried to work on a positive option instead?

2. Think about the people that you look up to, the ones that you go to when you have an issue…  what is it about them that attracts you to them so much? Is it the things that they DON’T Do, or is it the things that they Do Do?   (yes, I know I said do-do)

3. “But I say, walk by the ________, and you will not ____________ the desires of the flesh.”

Take a minute and journal your thoughts.

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Written by Jeff Harkins

If Your Friends Jumped Off That Bridge …

God wrote the Bible, but He used humans to do it, so sometimes we run into complications while reading the Bible. Paul can be pretty confusing in his writing, but it is still God's word. We need God's help and wisdom to help us read the Bible. Take some time to pray.

Read Galatians 4:8-20. I will be focusing on verses 12 to 20, but reading 8 to 11 will help us to understand what Paul is saying.

Galatians 4:12-20

12 Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to live as I do in freedom from these things, for I have become like you Gentiles—free from those laws.

You did not mistreat me when I first preached to you. 13 Surely you remember that I was sick when I first brought you the Good News. 14 But even though my condition tempted you to reject me, you did not despise me or turn me away. No, you took me in and cared for me as though I were an angel from God or even Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where is that joyful and grateful spirit you felt then? I am sure you would have taken out your own eyes and given them to me if it had been possible. 16 Have I now become your enemy because I am telling you the truth?

17 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them. 18 If someone is eager to do good things for you, that’s all right; but let them do it all the time, not just when I’m with you.

19 Oh, my dear children! I feel as if I’m going through labor pains for you again, and they will continue until Christ is fully developed in your lives. 20 I wish I were with you right now so I could change my tone. But at this distance I don’t know how else to help you.

Here's just a little explaining and back story to the verses. Paul is writing to the Galatians because he fears they are falling away from Christ. The Galatians are a perfect example of the Israelites, and sadly an example of us. Even though we were once slaves to the world and rescued by Christ, we sometimes want to go back to our old ways. So many times, God's chosen people wanted to go back to slavery or live like the other nations. In the same way we sometimes want to return to our sins and to the world.

We've all heard the expression : "if your friends jumped off a bridge, would you jump too?" Even though it's a bit of a ridiculous question, Paul raises a very powerful point in verses 12 through 20. Paul talks about how the Galatians received him as an "angel" then Paul says something so crazy! Vs. 15 "... If possible, you would have gouged out your eyes and given them to me." What!?! Are you serious, that's insane! The Galatians would have jumped off a bridge if Paul did. The Galatians were not focused on God, but they were focused so much on Paul. They were not listening to God. It's not that Paul was a bad person and shouldn't be listened to, it's that they were not looking to Jesus on how to live. They were looking to Paul.

I have read some awesome devotional books, but I recently read a few chapters of one that I didn't agree with. There were a few things that the author said that just didn't seem right. Some of his thoughts were focused on what we want God to do, and how God should do things for us. I don't believe we should live like that, thinking of God that way, I needed to make the decision to hold on to what I believe in, or accept someone else's belief.

Advice is a good thing. Especially from someone who is wiser and cares for you. But what is more important? What someone says, or what God says? Having Godly examples is good, and role models too. But what's more important? Being like those people, or being like Christ? Paul expresses that he is in anguish for them, because of the way they are living. When we look up to someone, make sure we see the characteristics of Christ in them, so we can strive to be more like Christ. When we hear advice or someone's beliefs, look for Biblical truth in that so you can decide to believe it or not to believe it. We need to use the example of Christ to discern what is right and wrong. Sometimes we are gonna hear things that we might not believe, whether in school, church, books, whatever, we need to look to Christ for the answer. Why strive to be like a imperfect person when we have the perfect person to follow.

QUESTIONS:

1. Think of someone you look up to and consider a role model

2. What Godly characteristics do they have? Now strive towards those characteristics that Jesus has, not what the human has. Christ is our ultimate role model and perfect example of how to live.

3. Use the beliefs that you have, think about what you have learned from the Bible, think about what Jesus has said: is there anything in my devotional book that you don't believe? Is there something that you believe that is different from what I've said? I hope there isn't but I am imperfect and there might be something wrong. Be honest with yourself and with me.

4. Take some time and journal about this passage

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Written by Max