A Friend who Sticks Closer than a Brother
"A man of many companions may come to ruin but there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother" (Proverbs 18:24). You can have all the friends in the world but if you don’t have one specific friend you will still be empty, lonely and dissatisfied. There is one friend that will never leave us nor forsake us. He sticks closer than a brother. Who is this amazing friend? Jesus Christ.
Most people have a skewed view of who Jesus is. They fail to see Jesus as a true friend that wants to be your best friend. Did you know that Jesus wants to laugh with you? He wants to have fun with you, cry with you, get excited with you. Jesus is not some emotionless being. He wants to go deep with you emotionally, to struggle with you, walk with you, fight alongside you. He wants you to experience exceeding joy being in his presence, just spending time with you. He wants to converse with you, communicate at a deep level with you. Jesus longs to be your best friend. I believe one of the reasons God gave us friends was so that we could understand the love that Jesus has towards us that comes from his friendship with us.
One of my favorite movie scenes is in "Lord of the Rings" where Frodo and Sam are at the crux of their journey for destroying the ring. Frodo is lying on the mountainside overwhelmed by the burden of the ring. He tells his friend Sam, "I can't go any longer Sam, I can't make it. Leave me here, go back…" Sam looks Frodo in the eye, "Mr. Frodo, I will never leave you! I may not be able to carry your burden Mr. Frodo but I can sure carry you!" Sam then picks Frodo up and places him on his shoulders and marches up the mountain.
Why is this portrayal of friendship so powerful? I believe this is so because it shows us a love that only can come through friendship. Jesus said, "Greater love has no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." Sam laid down his life for Frodo. This love is almost overwhelming it is so powerful. There is no greater love!
This kind of love which can only be found in friendships is the love Jesus wants to show us through our friendship with Him. In fact, Jesus wants this so much that he did so…He laid down his life. He climbed up the mountain because He knew we wouldn't make it unless he laid down his life for us! He saw that we were in trouble and he loved us so much that he died for us! Praise God! What an incredible Friend! How could we ever mock him by not living for Him? There really is a Friend who sticks closer than a brother. His name is Jesus
Monday, May 18, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
That's what Friends are for!
Why do we have friends? I Samuel tells an incredible story of true friendship of two young men named David and Jonathan who lay down their lives for each other. The Bible says that these men were willing to do anything for each other and then goes on to describe a magnificent story of camaraderie and brotherhood.
How did Jonathan and David become best friends? What was it that united them to each other? Jonathan was the son of King Saul, while David was a shepherd that had played music for King Saul since he was 12 years old, but it says in I Samuel 18 that Jonathan and David did not become best friends until after David fought Goliath. I Samuel 18 says that after David killed Goliath Jonathan became one in spirit with David, "As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head… After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." This was around five years after David began working for Jonathan's dad. Why was it on this particular day that they became best friends?
Remember that Jonathan was sitting next to his father, King Saul watching this entire battle take place. He was watching David as he stood against all odds when no one else would stand against the enemy. He heard David yelling at the Philistine, "You come against me with sword, spear and Javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied!" Jonathan watched David fulfill God's purpose that day and watched the power of God move through David to bring about a great victory. I believe that a miracle of friendship took place during this moment.
Just a few chapters back Jonathan faces a trial that I believe mirrors what David went through when he fought Goliath. During this time the Israelites are hiding in fear as the Philistines are surrounding them. No one is willing to stand up and fight. Finally, Jonathan, tired of the enemy, decides to make a difference. He looks at his armor bearer and says lets see if God will move on our behalf and go pick a fight with the Philistines. He tells his partner, "If the Philistines tell us to come up to the cliffs it is a sign from God that He has given them into our hands." So Jonathan and his armor bearer step out from hiding in the valley, the Philistines look down and the sign is given, "Come up here and we'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan looks at his partner and says, "God's given them into our hands! Let's fight them!"
Jonathan and his armor bearer began climbing up the walls of the cliff with their bare hands. When they finally get to the top panic strikes in the entire Philistine camp and Jonathan and his armor bearer end up defeating the enemy!]
Now go back to the scene with David and Goliath. Think about what was going through Jonathan's head as he was watching what was taking place, "I know this man. I've have been in his shoes. He's just like me! He's standing against all odds when no one else would just like I did! He is standing up for God! He is fulfilling His purpose, the same purpose I have!"
What was it but the connection of a common purpose that united David and Jonathan? It was at this moment when their dreams touched that they became one in spirit! God gives us friends so that we can fulfill a common purpose.
We will not simply find our friends by having a common purpose though. David and Jonathan always had a purpose given to them by God, but it wasn't until they began to fight for that purpose that they discovered each other. This is just like men who go to war. When they first go to war they know their soldier mates only by name or code when they first go into battle with each other. But when they come home from war they refer to their fellow soldiers no longer as soldier mates but as brothers. Why is this? It is simply because when they finally fight for the common purpose (freedom, family, etc.) they realize they could never do it alone!
So why did God give us friends and how can we discover those friends? To live out a common purpose that God has given us but not just to live for it but to fight for it with all your heart!
How did Jonathan and David become best friends? What was it that united them to each other? Jonathan was the son of King Saul, while David was a shepherd that had played music for King Saul since he was 12 years old, but it says in I Samuel 18 that Jonathan and David did not become best friends until after David fought Goliath. I Samuel 18 says that after David killed Goliath Jonathan became one in spirit with David, "As soon as David returned from killing the Philistine, Abner took him and brought him before Saul, with David still holding the Philistine's head… After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself." This was around five years after David began working for Jonathan's dad. Why was it on this particular day that they became best friends?
Remember that Jonathan was sitting next to his father, King Saul watching this entire battle take place. He was watching David as he stood against all odds when no one else would stand against the enemy. He heard David yelling at the Philistine, "You come against me with sword, spear and Javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied!" Jonathan watched David fulfill God's purpose that day and watched the power of God move through David to bring about a great victory. I believe that a miracle of friendship took place during this moment.
Just a few chapters back Jonathan faces a trial that I believe mirrors what David went through when he fought Goliath. During this time the Israelites are hiding in fear as the Philistines are surrounding them. No one is willing to stand up and fight. Finally, Jonathan, tired of the enemy, decides to make a difference. He looks at his armor bearer and says lets see if God will move on our behalf and go pick a fight with the Philistines. He tells his partner, "If the Philistines tell us to come up to the cliffs it is a sign from God that He has given them into our hands." So Jonathan and his armor bearer step out from hiding in the valley, the Philistines look down and the sign is given, "Come up here and we'll teach you a lesson!" Jonathan looks at his partner and says, "God's given them into our hands! Let's fight them!"
Jonathan and his armor bearer began climbing up the walls of the cliff with their bare hands. When they finally get to the top panic strikes in the entire Philistine camp and Jonathan and his armor bearer end up defeating the enemy!]
Now go back to the scene with David and Goliath. Think about what was going through Jonathan's head as he was watching what was taking place, "I know this man. I've have been in his shoes. He's just like me! He's standing against all odds when no one else would just like I did! He is standing up for God! He is fulfilling His purpose, the same purpose I have!"
What was it but the connection of a common purpose that united David and Jonathan? It was at this moment when their dreams touched that they became one in spirit! God gives us friends so that we can fulfill a common purpose.
We will not simply find our friends by having a common purpose though. David and Jonathan always had a purpose given to them by God, but it wasn't until they began to fight for that purpose that they discovered each other. This is just like men who go to war. When they first go to war they know their soldier mates only by name or code when they first go into battle with each other. But when they come home from war they refer to their fellow soldiers no longer as soldier mates but as brothers. Why is this? It is simply because when they finally fight for the common purpose (freedom, family, etc.) they realize they could never do it alone!
So why did God give us friends and how can we discover those friends? To live out a common purpose that God has given us but not just to live for it but to fight for it with all your heart!
Monday, March 23, 2009
The Power of Prayer
In I Samuel 4 the Israelites go into battle against the Philistines. To Israel’s dismay they are defeated and lose over four thousand soldiers in battle. Afterwards, the Israelite leaders brainstorm and come up with the idea to bring the Ark of the Covenant into battle believing it would secure them a victory. The Ark of the Covenant is brought into camp and all the people start rejoicing so loudly that the Philistines hear them and become afraid, “We must be strong and not let their gods defeat us!”
The next day the Israelites go into battle and are massacred. Instead of four thousand lost, the Israelites lost thirty thousand men. What happened? The Israelites had a lot to learn about God. God was not some good luck charm that was stored in a box that could be taken advantage of during hard times then stored away.
Too often we treat God like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Most people have an incorrect view of prayer. A math test comes up that we haven’t studied for and we throw up a quick prayer to God, “Lord, help me to understand everything I’ve studied…and everything I haven’t.” Prayer for most people can be summed up as a religious practice that Christians do when they are about to eat, go to bed (to protect themselves from bed bugs), are in church, or in trouble.
This is an incorrect view of prayer. Prayer is powerful! It is getting into God’s presence and staying there! It is not lifeless, boring old habit that religious people do. It is moving away from the busyness, the worries, self-agendas and the distractions of this world and meeting with God.
During this time with God you will find yourself fighting for your friends lives, fighting for your family. There will be a war within the heavenly realms. Be ready to take up your Sword. Learn how to wield it. You will experience unexplainable joy and satisfaction. You will go into the depths of your soul and God’s light will search you. You will soon discover the junk that lives within you, yet you will be set free as that junk is burned away by the fire of God.
You may come in empty but you will walk out filled. God will be made more real to you. Your friendship with him will grow. You will see Him more as a Father, as a Friend, as the Provider and Satisfier of your soul. Be ready because you too will experience pain as the Father prunes you, but when it is all said and done, you will rejoice because this is how you grow. You will find your strength and power, your confidence, your might, your passion and your energy will be revived. You will meet God. Like Elijah, you will hear the gentle, still small voice in the midst of the fire, wind and earthquake. This is where you will become the man or woman God planned you to be! This my friend is why you should pray!!!
How should we pray? First of all, pray with passion. Don’t pray in bed half asleep lollygagging in your dreams. If you feel a warm, fuzzy feeling beware! This is the sign of powerless praying. Get up, walk around. Guys, do some pushups to get the blood flowing. If you have no passion, pray until you have passion. True fervent prayer comes from a fire from within. Sometimes we must get that fire started by praying until ignition. It is like me trying to start my 1986 Turbo diesel by turning on my glow plugs—it takes time and patience, doing it over and over again. Bring energy, excitement and expectation into your prayer life.
Secondly, Time equals power. I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually. E.M. Bounds says, “In our private communications with God time is a feature essential to its value. Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying.” Daniel would take important time out of his day three times a day to pray. Jesus prayed while it was still dark outside. Take this as an important example, great men and women of prayer don’t throw prayer into a busy, chaotic schedule. Like Jesus, they place prayer as top priority, not in the middle.
Third, pray God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” We must learn to wield the Sword of the Spirit in prayer. Don’t just pray empty words, pray God’s Word!
Finally, pray in the spirit. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Praying in the spirit is when you submit your heart and mind to the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit. Do you ever wonder what you should pray about? Ask the Holy Spirit. He is your guide. But remember it is more than asking—it is submitting, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.”
The men that moved this world for God were men of prayer. John Wesley prayed two hours a day. Martin Luther prayed three hours a day and said, “I’m too busy not to pray.” Bishop Asbury said, “I propose to rise at 4 o’clock as often as I can and spend 2 hours in prayer.” Joseph Alleine prayed from 4-8AM each morning.
Missionary to Africa, David Livingstone was also a man of prayer. When David was a young boy his father would read him stories of missionaries that had accomplished marvelous tasks for God. David was captivated by these intriguing stories and was inspired to become a missionary. When David grew up he went to Africa to bring God to the tribes that had not heard of Jesus. Ravi Zacharias tells us that David was away from his wife and family not five weeks, not five months but five years!
During this time he had been attacked by lions, his left eye had been blinded from running into a bush and his skin was turned into leather from the boiling sun. When he finally came back to his wife and family his wife didn’t even recognize him. Despite all this David felt like God was calling him back to Africa. This time his wife came and the cost was great. She died of a disease just a few days after being in Africa.
At the end of his road David was still serving God by reaching out to the people of Africa. Finally, one day David was so exhausted that he could barely walk and was forced by his companions to take a rest. As they were about to place him in his bed he said, “Wait, don’t put me in bed. Help me to my knees.” David began praying fervently like he always did. The men waited for him to finish praying but noticed that he was praying for a long time but they didn’t want to interfere with his praying. Finally, a man came to them and said, “Let me in. I have to ask Mr. Livingstone a question.” The men finally went in to discover that David Livingstone had died on his knees in prayer. David Livingstone had died exactly the way he had lived, In the presence of God!
The next day the Israelites go into battle and are massacred. Instead of four thousand lost, the Israelites lost thirty thousand men. What happened? The Israelites had a lot to learn about God. God was not some good luck charm that was stored in a box that could be taken advantage of during hard times then stored away.
Too often we treat God like a lucky rabbit’s foot. Most people have an incorrect view of prayer. A math test comes up that we haven’t studied for and we throw up a quick prayer to God, “Lord, help me to understand everything I’ve studied…and everything I haven’t.” Prayer for most people can be summed up as a religious practice that Christians do when they are about to eat, go to bed (to protect themselves from bed bugs), are in church, or in trouble.
This is an incorrect view of prayer. Prayer is powerful! It is getting into God’s presence and staying there! It is not lifeless, boring old habit that religious people do. It is moving away from the busyness, the worries, self-agendas and the distractions of this world and meeting with God.
During this time with God you will find yourself fighting for your friends lives, fighting for your family. There will be a war within the heavenly realms. Be ready to take up your Sword. Learn how to wield it. You will experience unexplainable joy and satisfaction. You will go into the depths of your soul and God’s light will search you. You will soon discover the junk that lives within you, yet you will be set free as that junk is burned away by the fire of God.
You may come in empty but you will walk out filled. God will be made more real to you. Your friendship with him will grow. You will see Him more as a Father, as a Friend, as the Provider and Satisfier of your soul. Be ready because you too will experience pain as the Father prunes you, but when it is all said and done, you will rejoice because this is how you grow. You will find your strength and power, your confidence, your might, your passion and your energy will be revived. You will meet God. Like Elijah, you will hear the gentle, still small voice in the midst of the fire, wind and earthquake. This is where you will become the man or woman God planned you to be! This my friend is why you should pray!!!
How should we pray? First of all, pray with passion. Don’t pray in bed half asleep lollygagging in your dreams. If you feel a warm, fuzzy feeling beware! This is the sign of powerless praying. Get up, walk around. Guys, do some pushups to get the blood flowing. If you have no passion, pray until you have passion. True fervent prayer comes from a fire from within. Sometimes we must get that fire started by praying until ignition. It is like me trying to start my 1986 Turbo diesel by turning on my glow plugs—it takes time and patience, doing it over and over again. Bring energy, excitement and expectation into your prayer life.
Secondly, Time equals power. I Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to pray continually. E.M. Bounds says, “In our private communications with God time is a feature essential to its value. Much time spent with God is the secret of all successful praying.” Daniel would take important time out of his day three times a day to pray. Jesus prayed while it was still dark outside. Take this as an important example, great men and women of prayer don’t throw prayer into a busy, chaotic schedule. Like Jesus, they place prayer as top priority, not in the middle.
Third, pray God’s Word. Hebrews 4:12 says, “The Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It penetrates to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” We must learn to wield the Sword of the Spirit in prayer. Don’t just pray empty words, pray God’s Word!
Finally, pray in the spirit. Ephesians 6:18 tells us to pray in the Spirit on all occasions. Praying in the spirit is when you submit your heart and mind to the direction and leading of the Holy Spirit. Do you ever wonder what you should pray about? Ask the Holy Spirit. He is your guide. But remember it is more than asking—it is submitting, “Your Kingdom come, your will be done.”
The men that moved this world for God were men of prayer. John Wesley prayed two hours a day. Martin Luther prayed three hours a day and said, “I’m too busy not to pray.” Bishop Asbury said, “I propose to rise at 4 o’clock as often as I can and spend 2 hours in prayer.” Joseph Alleine prayed from 4-8AM each morning.
Missionary to Africa, David Livingstone was also a man of prayer. When David was a young boy his father would read him stories of missionaries that had accomplished marvelous tasks for God. David was captivated by these intriguing stories and was inspired to become a missionary. When David grew up he went to Africa to bring God to the tribes that had not heard of Jesus. Ravi Zacharias tells us that David was away from his wife and family not five weeks, not five months but five years!
During this time he had been attacked by lions, his left eye had been blinded from running into a bush and his skin was turned into leather from the boiling sun. When he finally came back to his wife and family his wife didn’t even recognize him. Despite all this David felt like God was calling him back to Africa. This time his wife came and the cost was great. She died of a disease just a few days after being in Africa.
At the end of his road David was still serving God by reaching out to the people of Africa. Finally, one day David was so exhausted that he could barely walk and was forced by his companions to take a rest. As they were about to place him in his bed he said, “Wait, don’t put me in bed. Help me to my knees.” David began praying fervently like he always did. The men waited for him to finish praying but noticed that he was praying for a long time but they didn’t want to interfere with his praying. Finally, a man came to them and said, “Let me in. I have to ask Mr. Livingstone a question.” The men finally went in to discover that David Livingstone had died on his knees in prayer. David Livingstone had died exactly the way he had lived, In the presence of God!
Monday, February 16, 2009
“Don’t Spoil Your Dinner” (Lessons from Kindergarten)
Two months ago I was in Orlando, Florida on our annual Disney Invasion trip. We had finished the day up at Magic Kingdom and were on our way to UNO’s Pizza, the best deep dish pizza out there. My favorite dish at UNO’s is their famous Numero Uno, the pizza that put UNO’s on the map. The pizza can be described as a deep dish pizza with croissant-like crust. In the middle of this warm, delicious crust is homemade sausage, fresh, ripe tomatoes, fresh, crisp green peppers, red peppers, onions, handmade pepperoni, along with mushrooms and Italian herb tomato sauce. Every bite is one swallow closer to heaven. On top of this delicious taste, it is all organically grown (no pesticides, no MSG, no sugar, no junk to leave you feeling like a sorry piece of disaster).
So, here I am ready for my Numero Uno, anticipating heaven to be one step closer when I get my pizza. The waitress comes out and asks, “What would you like?” “I’ll have the Numero Uno!!! (Oh, sorry. I said that loud).” “Okay, we’ll work on getting that out to you.”
The Numero Uno was on it’s way and boy was I starving! A whole day at Magic Kingdom, nibbling on what I call rabbit lettuce (we got burgers and I made sure to load up with condiments to cut costs). As I waited one pizza came out—pepperoni: “Ha! Pepperoni!? I’m getting a Numero Uno, suckers!” Then a few more pizzas came out, some BBQ flat bread crusts, which were good, but didn’t compare to the Numero Uno. I was going to wait. It would be worth it!
Before I knew it over twenty kids were standing in line getting their BBQ and pepperoni (Ha! I’m getting the Numero Uno!) Then the inevitable happened. Fate took over. The empty pizzas had been replaced by the Numero Uno.
“Oh no! Uno!” I jumped out of my chair just in time to grab a small, warm bite of heaven, “How delicious! I want more!” At this moment my stomach had taken command and was commanding me, “Eat, or die!”
The waitress came back out and asked if everything was okay. I told her I didn’t get enough Numero Uno. She looked at me and said, “We’ll try but I can’t promise you anything.” “Oh, no! please!”
Pizza continued coming out. This time a buffalo wing pizza that looked really good. Time was ticking away. No way was I going to get my Numero Uno. My stomach started fighting with me: “Eat, fool!”
Finally, at the precipice I gave in. I succumbed to my stupid stomach and ate the buffalo pizza. It was filling but it was nothing like Numero Uno. As I was stuffing my body like a mounted deer with my last bite, the inevitable occured again! “Sir, thank you for coming tonight, we have an entire Numero Uno for you!” “What!? Yes! Ah man, I’m stuffed. If I eat another bite someone’s going to mount me to the wall with the rest of those animals.”
At that moment God spoke to me, “Ryan, you chose 2nd best rather than the best simply because you weren’t willing to wait. Don’t do this with your life. Don’t choose BBQ when Numero Uno is on its way!”
God’s promises are on the way! I had the choice of a lifetime—eating a free Numero Uno! But I gave in and chose second best and for the rest of that night slept in agony. There is nothing worse than forfeiting God’s best for your life and looking back in agony.
Why do we choose second best over best? Simply because we don’t trust God has something better. There are so many “good” things we are tempted with; therefore, it doesn’t seem like the wrong choice. For example, just like there are so many good pizzas, there are so many good guys, good girls, good jobs, good grades, good life, good athletes, good artists… It is easy to settle for just “good” and not “great.”
Trusting God takes patience, especially when all the good things are presenting themselves to us and we are saying “no” to them never able to get them back. You may never get that opportunity to have those friends again. You may never get that girl you admire, that guy you dream of. You may lose your popularity. You may lose your athletic dreams. You may pass up an offer to be the most looked up to guy on campus or the girl with the most…(you fill in the blank); all because you decided to wait for Numero Uno!
Always, at the precipice it feels like it is not worth it! Temptation screams at you, “Eat or die! You’ll never get another chance! This is your last!” But what we must understand is that just on the other side of temptation for second best is a future career anointed by God, a marriage to someone greater than you ever dreamed of, friends that never leave you, a scholarship completely unexpected, friends coming into God’s Kingdom, a leader used to accomplish God’s will, joy that cannot be explained, love that reaches into the depths of your soul, passion that guides your every step, peace that guards your heart, success beyond measure and satisfaction of the inmost being.
There is nothing greater than choosing God’s best!
The reason why we succumb to second is simply because we don’t trust God. We don’t trust God because we don’t know who He is. He is our creator, our prince of peace, the anointed one, the holy one, He is our satisfaction, our delight. He is the one who fashioned and formed us in our mother’s womb. He is love. He is joy. He is indescribable. He is infinite yet intimate. He is bound by nothing. He is our Rock, a mighty fortress. He is our joy. He is our light. He is our provider, our healer, our everything.
In the Bible Job is faced with a trial that turns his life upside down. He loses everthing—family, friends, health, wealth, etc. At the end of Job’s trial God comes to Job and begins to explain to Job who He is, how He is all-powerful, the Creator, the One who holds everything together. After God gives this revelation to him, Job in humility says, “I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
In the midst of Job’s temptation and trial he was faced with the temptation to trust God is who He says He is or not… “Does God really care about me? Is He really going to give me a perfect mate? Am I going to lose my dreams of sports? Will I have to sacrifice fun? Is God in control, I mean…look at my life? I’m losing everything! Is God going to satisfy my needs?”
This is the test we all face when temptation is presented before us. Is God going to do what He says He will do? Like Job, we are confronted with how much we trust God.
At the end of the trial, as you look back and remember all those times of your “ears hearing of God” and how he will provide and take care of the righteous, you will then “see God.” The truth that you always wondered deep down inside if it was true will be revealed. My question to you is this, “What will God say when you stand face to face with Him? Job received his reward because he never lost trust in God. Will you?
Ryan Austin
VYM Youth Director
So, here I am ready for my Numero Uno, anticipating heaven to be one step closer when I get my pizza. The waitress comes out and asks, “What would you like?” “I’ll have the Numero Uno!!! (Oh, sorry. I said that loud).” “Okay, we’ll work on getting that out to you.”
The Numero Uno was on it’s way and boy was I starving! A whole day at Magic Kingdom, nibbling on what I call rabbit lettuce (we got burgers and I made sure to load up with condiments to cut costs). As I waited one pizza came out—pepperoni: “Ha! Pepperoni!? I’m getting a Numero Uno, suckers!” Then a few more pizzas came out, some BBQ flat bread crusts, which were good, but didn’t compare to the Numero Uno. I was going to wait. It would be worth it!
Before I knew it over twenty kids were standing in line getting their BBQ and pepperoni (Ha! I’m getting the Numero Uno!) Then the inevitable happened. Fate took over. The empty pizzas had been replaced by the Numero Uno.
“Oh no! Uno!” I jumped out of my chair just in time to grab a small, warm bite of heaven, “How delicious! I want more!” At this moment my stomach had taken command and was commanding me, “Eat, or die!”
The waitress came back out and asked if everything was okay. I told her I didn’t get enough Numero Uno. She looked at me and said, “We’ll try but I can’t promise you anything.” “Oh, no! please!”
Pizza continued coming out. This time a buffalo wing pizza that looked really good. Time was ticking away. No way was I going to get my Numero Uno. My stomach started fighting with me: “Eat, fool!”
Finally, at the precipice I gave in. I succumbed to my stupid stomach and ate the buffalo pizza. It was filling but it was nothing like Numero Uno. As I was stuffing my body like a mounted deer with my last bite, the inevitable occured again! “Sir, thank you for coming tonight, we have an entire Numero Uno for you!” “What!? Yes! Ah man, I’m stuffed. If I eat another bite someone’s going to mount me to the wall with the rest of those animals.”
At that moment God spoke to me, “Ryan, you chose 2nd best rather than the best simply because you weren’t willing to wait. Don’t do this with your life. Don’t choose BBQ when Numero Uno is on its way!”
God’s promises are on the way! I had the choice of a lifetime—eating a free Numero Uno! But I gave in and chose second best and for the rest of that night slept in agony. There is nothing worse than forfeiting God’s best for your life and looking back in agony.
Why do we choose second best over best? Simply because we don’t trust God has something better. There are so many “good” things we are tempted with; therefore, it doesn’t seem like the wrong choice. For example, just like there are so many good pizzas, there are so many good guys, good girls, good jobs, good grades, good life, good athletes, good artists… It is easy to settle for just “good” and not “great.”
Trusting God takes patience, especially when all the good things are presenting themselves to us and we are saying “no” to them never able to get them back. You may never get that opportunity to have those friends again. You may never get that girl you admire, that guy you dream of. You may lose your popularity. You may lose your athletic dreams. You may pass up an offer to be the most looked up to guy on campus or the girl with the most…(you fill in the blank); all because you decided to wait for Numero Uno!
Always, at the precipice it feels like it is not worth it! Temptation screams at you, “Eat or die! You’ll never get another chance! This is your last!” But what we must understand is that just on the other side of temptation for second best is a future career anointed by God, a marriage to someone greater than you ever dreamed of, friends that never leave you, a scholarship completely unexpected, friends coming into God’s Kingdom, a leader used to accomplish God’s will, joy that cannot be explained, love that reaches into the depths of your soul, passion that guides your every step, peace that guards your heart, success beyond measure and satisfaction of the inmost being.
There is nothing greater than choosing God’s best!
The reason why we succumb to second is simply because we don’t trust God. We don’t trust God because we don’t know who He is. He is our creator, our prince of peace, the anointed one, the holy one, He is our satisfaction, our delight. He is the one who fashioned and formed us in our mother’s womb. He is love. He is joy. He is indescribable. He is infinite yet intimate. He is bound by nothing. He is our Rock, a mighty fortress. He is our joy. He is our light. He is our provider, our healer, our everything.
In the Bible Job is faced with a trial that turns his life upside down. He loses everthing—family, friends, health, wealth, etc. At the end of Job’s trial God comes to Job and begins to explain to Job who He is, how He is all-powerful, the Creator, the One who holds everything together. After God gives this revelation to him, Job in humility says, “I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen now, and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore, I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.”
In the midst of Job’s temptation and trial he was faced with the temptation to trust God is who He says He is or not… “Does God really care about me? Is He really going to give me a perfect mate? Am I going to lose my dreams of sports? Will I have to sacrifice fun? Is God in control, I mean…look at my life? I’m losing everything! Is God going to satisfy my needs?”
This is the test we all face when temptation is presented before us. Is God going to do what He says He will do? Like Job, we are confronted with how much we trust God.
At the end of the trial, as you look back and remember all those times of your “ears hearing of God” and how he will provide and take care of the righteous, you will then “see God.” The truth that you always wondered deep down inside if it was true will be revealed. My question to you is this, “What will God say when you stand face to face with Him? Job received his reward because he never lost trust in God. Will you?
Ryan Austin
VYM Youth Director
Monday, February 9, 2009
All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
Lesson 3: Take a Nap
When I was in kindergarten my teacher would always make us take naps after lunch time. I still have a vivid image of laying down on a red and blue mat wide awake thinking, “Why in the world do we have to take naps? I would rather be playing!”
Today I have a different view on naps. I would love to take a fiesta after lunch every day, but life is not as friendly with naps as it once was. My life has gone from snail pace to light speed. I now have Bible time, work, resolution college ministry, discipleship, Band of Brothers, triathlon training, bills, relationship building... In between all these I have to fit in eating and sleep.
For those of you in school your typical day might consist waking up, reading Bible, Breakfast, school, student government, soccer, homework, leadership meetings, discipleship, dinner, IM friends, sleep…Every day of our lives is completely filled. Life is like one big connected event with no breaks. There is no time to take naps like there once was.
In Exodus 31:12-14 God tells us to take a Sabbath. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
Why does God tell us to take a Sabbath, especially with us being so busy? He tells us to in order to remind us that it is not ourselves that makes us holy, that brings us success, gives us good health, good friends, good grades, success in athletics, joy, financial provision, happiness…But it is God! It is easy to become so busy and focused on our agendas that we lose sight of the One who brings us success and joy in life.
When I speak of taking a nap (a creative way of saying Sabbath) I am not talking about slothfulness, the sin of doing nothing, caring about nothing, worshiping nothing and living for nothing. A Sabbath is productive intimacy with God through enjoying his presence. In fact, not taking a Sabbath is the direct opposite of slothfulness. Without alone time with God you will fall into the trap of slothfulness that so many young people have fallen into today.
How do we take a nap (Sabbath)? First of all, be still and know that He is God. Then cut away the noise and be quiet. Finally, pause and acknowledge God, “God is here!” Breath in his presence. Let him fill you. God wants us to acknowledge Him every day. Take a small “nap” everyday and acknowledge God. Take a whole “nap” once a week. God commands it.
Here are some practical tips on taking a Sabbath. Plan ahead! Don’t procrastinate. Don’t you hate when your work is always hanging over you? Don’t you love it when you finish your homework early, then you have the whole weekend to play? In Exodus 16:22-24 God
commands the Israelites to gather their food and save the leftovers for the next day, which was the Sabbath. The Israelites basically planned ahead and God provided on the Sabbath. If we will plan ahead and obey God by taking a Sabbath, God will provide. Less is more. In other words, less of you and more of God equals abundant provision.
To help clarify what a Sabbath looks like Os Guiness gives us a great point on solitude: “When Jesus and his disciples were so pressured that they couldn’t even eat, he said: ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ He then took them to “a solitary place.” Like the other disciplines of abstinence…solitude is vital for training us to stand against the excesses of our culture. Whereas normal life puffs up our sense of self-importance and locks us into the patterns of thought and behavior dependent on others, solitude liberates us from these entanglements by carving out a space from which we can see ourselves and our situation before an Audience of One” (The Call 159-160).
Simply stated, a Sabbath is cutting away the things in this life that are linked to self-importance-the job, school, homework, sports practice, band practice, IM… and finding you alone before an Audience of One!
Ryan Austin
Element Youth Director
When I was in kindergarten my teacher would always make us take naps after lunch time. I still have a vivid image of laying down on a red and blue mat wide awake thinking, “Why in the world do we have to take naps? I would rather be playing!”
Today I have a different view on naps. I would love to take a fiesta after lunch every day, but life is not as friendly with naps as it once was. My life has gone from snail pace to light speed. I now have Bible time, work, resolution college ministry, discipleship, Band of Brothers, triathlon training, bills, relationship building... In between all these I have to fit in eating and sleep.
For those of you in school your typical day might consist waking up, reading Bible, Breakfast, school, student government, soccer, homework, leadership meetings, discipleship, dinner, IM friends, sleep…Every day of our lives is completely filled. Life is like one big connected event with no breaks. There is no time to take naps like there once was.
In Exodus 31:12-14 God tells us to take a Sabbath. Then the LORD said to Moses, "Say to the Israelites, 'You must observe my Sabbaths. This will be a sign between me and you for the generations to come, so you may know that I am the LORD, who makes you holy.”
Why does God tell us to take a Sabbath, especially with us being so busy? He tells us to in order to remind us that it is not ourselves that makes us holy, that brings us success, gives us good health, good friends, good grades, success in athletics, joy, financial provision, happiness…But it is God! It is easy to become so busy and focused on our agendas that we lose sight of the One who brings us success and joy in life.
When I speak of taking a nap (a creative way of saying Sabbath) I am not talking about slothfulness, the sin of doing nothing, caring about nothing, worshiping nothing and living for nothing. A Sabbath is productive intimacy with God through enjoying his presence. In fact, not taking a Sabbath is the direct opposite of slothfulness. Without alone time with God you will fall into the trap of slothfulness that so many young people have fallen into today.
How do we take a nap (Sabbath)? First of all, be still and know that He is God. Then cut away the noise and be quiet. Finally, pause and acknowledge God, “God is here!” Breath in his presence. Let him fill you. God wants us to acknowledge Him every day. Take a small “nap” everyday and acknowledge God. Take a whole “nap” once a week. God commands it.
Here are some practical tips on taking a Sabbath. Plan ahead! Don’t procrastinate. Don’t you hate when your work is always hanging over you? Don’t you love it when you finish your homework early, then you have the whole weekend to play? In Exodus 16:22-24 God
commands the Israelites to gather their food and save the leftovers for the next day, which was the Sabbath. The Israelites basically planned ahead and God provided on the Sabbath. If we will plan ahead and obey God by taking a Sabbath, God will provide. Less is more. In other words, less of you and more of God equals abundant provision.
To help clarify what a Sabbath looks like Os Guiness gives us a great point on solitude: “When Jesus and his disciples were so pressured that they couldn’t even eat, he said: ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.’ He then took them to “a solitary place.” Like the other disciplines of abstinence…solitude is vital for training us to stand against the excesses of our culture. Whereas normal life puffs up our sense of self-importance and locks us into the patterns of thought and behavior dependent on others, solitude liberates us from these entanglements by carving out a space from which we can see ourselves and our situation before an Audience of One” (The Call 159-160).
Simply stated, a Sabbath is cutting away the things in this life that are linked to self-importance-the job, school, homework, sports practice, band practice, IM… and finding you alone before an Audience of One!
Ryan Austin
Element Youth Director
Monday, January 26, 2009
“All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten”
Lesson 2: Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Road
When I was in kindergarten my parents, teachers and authorities would constantly tell me to look both ways before crossing the road. Why did our parents and teachers make certain that we learned to obey this? Because crossing the street is extremely dangerous; especially to a six year old who doesn’t look for cars.
Three years ago I experienced the danger of roads. On Thursday night after a prayer meeting at the church I was driving a 98, green Tahoe on Belfort Road with Aaron and Jason Rue in the passenger seats. As I was driving I noticed a silver Tahoe moving at a considerable speed coming from the left on A.C. Skinner (crosses over Belfort). As I continued driving I noticed that the other Tahoe was not slowing down for the stop sign. As we moved closer and closer to A.C. Skinner I realized the car was not going to stop. I pressed my foot to the break but it was too late. At that moment life froze. I can still picture it in slow motion today as we moved inch by inch closer to the other car’s back tire. Then like waking up from a deep dream, “Bang!” Everything went cloudy and a high pitch ring echoed in our ears from the air bags. We jumped out of our totaled Tahoe to find the other Tahoe flipped over in the trees, completely smashed, with the back right wheel twenty yards down A.C. Skinner. By God’s grace no one was hurt from the crash. We soon found out that the driver was drunk coming from Dave and Busters.
Life is dangerous. There are so many hazardous things in life that we face. A drunk driver may be dangerous but so is an unhealthy relationship, music that hardens our hearts, thoughts that corrupt the mind and soul and the images that form those thoughts.
In Genesis 2:15-17 God commands Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when they eat of it they will die. Since man’s beginning he has faced danger.
I Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone whom he may devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
I Peter tells us to take caution. God’s Word commands us to be cautious: “life is dangerous! The enemy is seeking someone whom he may devour!”God wants us to be cautious in our friendships, with the music we listen to, those we hang out with, the things we look at, what we think about, what we read and a whole host of other perilous areas of life.
God commands us to be self-controlled. When taking caution our concern is not what the enemy can do to us, but what our “selfs” can do to us. James 1:18 says, “But each one of you is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” Our struggles come from within. We must check our hearts, thoughts and actions to see if they are subtly conforming to the world—whether or not we are being desensitized.
The devil can only devour those that cannot control the self. We find in Genesis that Adam and Eve failed to take caution. Genesis 3:1-11 talks about Adam and Eve being tempted by the devil to eat the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve disobey God by eating the fruit and immediately cover up in fig leaves and hide from God because they realize their nakedness and have shame. Soon God comes searching for man and when he finds him God asks, “Who told you that you were naked?” Did God really not know why they knew they were naked? Of course He knew. Donald Miller says that God was making a point. For the first time their focus was moved away from God to them “selfs” realizing they were naked. God was saying, “How could you have rejected my love for you? How could you have abandoned me when I love you more than anything?” Before Adam and Eve sinned they were so focused on God, so captivated by Him that they did not even recognize themselves; their nakedness. It was at this moment that we discovered that the “self” is our greatest enemy.
How do we take caution? How do we control the “self?” The only way to control the “self” is to destroy it. A.W. Tozer says that the veil that keeps our hearts from God is “woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. They are not something we do. They are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and their power. To be specific, the self-sins are self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep with us and are too much a part of our nature to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them.”
How do we destroy these self-sins so that our focus is turned back on God? Tozer says, “Insist that the work be done in very truth and it will be done. The cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual spiritual experience the presence of the living God.”
Only by being in the Presence of God can we destroy the “self.” It when we are in his presence that our “selfs” are crucified on the cross.
The second way we must take caution is look both ways before making a decision. When most people make a decision they only look one way, seeing how their decision is going to bring them pleasure at the moment, but few see the coming train wreck on the other side.
Finally, we must have peripheral vision rather than tunnel vision. Tunnel vision is the inability to see the consequences of your decisions. This is caused by a lack of self-control. It is when we are so focused on ourselves and what we want that our decisions are formed by momentary pleasure rather than by God’s will. Peripheral vision, on the other hand, is when our eyes are moved off of ourselves to God. As we read God’s Word, get in our prayer closets and seek him, as we die to ourselves our vision becomes peripheral and we learn to look both ways, taking caution and making wise decisions.
Ryan Austin
When I was in kindergarten my parents, teachers and authorities would constantly tell me to look both ways before crossing the road. Why did our parents and teachers make certain that we learned to obey this? Because crossing the street is extremely dangerous; especially to a six year old who doesn’t look for cars.
Three years ago I experienced the danger of roads. On Thursday night after a prayer meeting at the church I was driving a 98, green Tahoe on Belfort Road with Aaron and Jason Rue in the passenger seats. As I was driving I noticed a silver Tahoe moving at a considerable speed coming from the left on A.C. Skinner (crosses over Belfort). As I continued driving I noticed that the other Tahoe was not slowing down for the stop sign. As we moved closer and closer to A.C. Skinner I realized the car was not going to stop. I pressed my foot to the break but it was too late. At that moment life froze. I can still picture it in slow motion today as we moved inch by inch closer to the other car’s back tire. Then like waking up from a deep dream, “Bang!” Everything went cloudy and a high pitch ring echoed in our ears from the air bags. We jumped out of our totaled Tahoe to find the other Tahoe flipped over in the trees, completely smashed, with the back right wheel twenty yards down A.C. Skinner. By God’s grace no one was hurt from the crash. We soon found out that the driver was drunk coming from Dave and Busters.
Life is dangerous. There are so many hazardous things in life that we face. A drunk driver may be dangerous but so is an unhealthy relationship, music that hardens our hearts, thoughts that corrupt the mind and soul and the images that form those thoughts.
In Genesis 2:15-17 God commands Adam and Eve to not eat from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, for when they eat of it they will die. Since man’s beginning he has faced danger.
I Peter 5:8 says, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone whom he may devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers around the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”
I Peter tells us to take caution. God’s Word commands us to be cautious: “life is dangerous! The enemy is seeking someone whom he may devour!”God wants us to be cautious in our friendships, with the music we listen to, those we hang out with, the things we look at, what we think about, what we read and a whole host of other perilous areas of life.
God commands us to be self-controlled. When taking caution our concern is not what the enemy can do to us, but what our “selfs” can do to us. James 1:18 says, “But each one of you is tempted when, by his own evil desire, he is dragged away and enticed.” Our struggles come from within. We must check our hearts, thoughts and actions to see if they are subtly conforming to the world—whether or not we are being desensitized.
The devil can only devour those that cannot control the self. We find in Genesis that Adam and Eve failed to take caution. Genesis 3:1-11 talks about Adam and Eve being tempted by the devil to eat the forbidden fruit. Adam and Eve disobey God by eating the fruit and immediately cover up in fig leaves and hide from God because they realize their nakedness and have shame. Soon God comes searching for man and when he finds him God asks, “Who told you that you were naked?” Did God really not know why they knew they were naked? Of course He knew. Donald Miller says that God was making a point. For the first time their focus was moved away from God to them “selfs” realizing they were naked. God was saying, “How could you have rejected my love for you? How could you have abandoned me when I love you more than anything?” Before Adam and Eve sinned they were so focused on God, so captivated by Him that they did not even recognize themselves; their nakedness. It was at this moment that we discovered that the “self” is our greatest enemy.
How do we take caution? How do we control the “self?” The only way to control the “self” is to destroy it. A.W. Tozer says that the veil that keeps our hearts from God is “woven of the fine threads of the self-life, the hyphenated sins of the human spirit. They are not something we do. They are something we are, and therein lies both their subtlety and their power. To be specific, the self-sins are self-righteousness, self-pity, self-confidence, self-sufficiency, self-admiration, self-love, and a host of others like them. They dwell too deep with us and are too much a part of our nature to come to our attention till the light of God is focused upon them.”
How do we destroy these self-sins so that our focus is turned back on God? Tozer says, “Insist that the work be done in very truth and it will be done. The cross is rough and it is deadly, but it is effective. It does not keep its victim hanging there forever. There comes a moment when its work is finished and the suffering dies. After that is resurrection glory and power, and the pain is forgotten for joy that the veil is taken away and we have entered in actual spiritual experience the presence of the living God.”
Only by being in the Presence of God can we destroy the “self.” It when we are in his presence that our “selfs” are crucified on the cross.
The second way we must take caution is look both ways before making a decision. When most people make a decision they only look one way, seeing how their decision is going to bring them pleasure at the moment, but few see the coming train wreck on the other side.
Finally, we must have peripheral vision rather than tunnel vision. Tunnel vision is the inability to see the consequences of your decisions. This is caused by a lack of self-control. It is when we are so focused on ourselves and what we want that our decisions are formed by momentary pleasure rather than by God’s will. Peripheral vision, on the other hand, is when our eyes are moved off of ourselves to God. As we read God’s Word, get in our prayer closets and seek him, as we die to ourselves our vision becomes peripheral and we learn to look both ways, taking caution and making wise decisions.
Ryan Austin
Thursday, January 22, 2009
All I Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
The Message
We just began a new series called All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten. This week we discussed Following the Instructions. The following weeks’ messages consists of Don’t Spoil Your Dinner, Look Both Ways Before Crossing the Road, Don’t Talk to Strangers and Take a Nap.
Follow the Instructions
In Kindergarten one of the most important rules our teachers taught us was follow the instructions or rules. Our Kindergarten teacher stressed this rule because it is the foundations to following all the other rules. If you think about it you find that this rule is vitally important to our lives today, not just in kindergarten. First of all, instructions make life less difficult. If you’ve ever tried to build a model car or Legos helicopter you discover the importance of the instruction manual. Trying to put a model car, Legos, table or some other object together by your own intuition only leads to confusion and frustration.
A couple of weeks ago a friend of mine was robbed at gunpoint at his dry cleaning business. Two men barged into his shop, stuck a gun in his face, and told him to give him everything he owned. When the men had left he called the police and placed a search for the arrest of the two robbers. Although, these men escaped and my friend’ s money was stolen from him the outcome could have been worst if there were no rules.
If there were no rules we would live in anarchy. Anyone could do whatever they wanted to without being penalized. This may seem appealing at first thought: “No rules!? I can do whatever I want!” This couldn’t be any further from the truth. Rules actually give us freedom. They protect us from others taking what is ours. They give us boundaries and order which gives us freedom to do more rather than running straight off a cliff.
God’s Word is big on following instructions. One of the main themes of the book of Proverbs is following instruction: “Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. My son, pay attention to my wisdom, listen well to my words of insight. Heed your fathers advice. Listen to instruction and in the end you will be wise. Listen and pay attention to instruction.”
We know that instructions are here to benefit us and it is important to follow them but sometimes it is extremely difficult to follow them. Why is this?
First of all, life is complex. Life is not always black and white like we may think. It is actually pretty grey sometimes. This makes it difficult to make a decision. Because we cannot see the outcome of following the instructions we hesitate in following through with them.
Secondly, we have our own agendas. About a month ago I had just finished my swim workout at UNF and was on my way to my car when my brother drove by laughing at me: “Look at your car Ryan (with a smirk on his face).” It couldn’t be? Surely not? A few more steps and then a turn to the left and there was my car imprisoned by the yellow boot. “But I had a parking decal!” I yelled out. I looked at the dash board and there it was, my parking decal slightly covered by another piece of paper. In fury, I immediately called the UNF parking department and in anger chewed them out for giving me a boot when I had a parking decal. The young man I talked to kind of smarted off and said that I had four unpaid tickets so I would have received a boot anyways. I in turn smarted off, “I’m coming to prove to you I have a decal. I’m going to take you down buddy!” I marched one mile to the parking department office and burst through the doors to find the high tone voice I spoke to over the phone. I went to the first window open and there sat a guy that appeared about 6’1” sitting down but when he stood up he was actually about 6’4” and stacked (short chairs can be deceiving). I soon became humble and said very gently “Are you the guy I just talked to about the boot?” “Yes” he replied. In fear I thought to myself, “Man your voice is deceiving.” Moral of the story, follow the instructions and never pick a fight without knowing who you are fighting.
Was it the UNF parking department’s fault or mine that I received a boot? I may say that they are too strict and I shouldn’t have received a boot but it was my fault. I disobeyed the instructions. If you think about it, I actually took someone’ s parking space that they paid for. I wouldn’t want someone taking my spot that I paid for, so rules are for our benefit.
Another reason instructions are difficult to follow is because it takes patience in following them. Doesn’t it seem easier sometimes to just skip the directions so you can finish more quickly. This is deceiving—shortcutting only leads to added time.
Finally, following the instructions feels like you are losing while the rest of the world is winning—“My friends have all the beautiful girlfriends. They always have so much fun going to their movies, talking on MySpace. They get to go out whenever to whatever. They have so much fun at parties. They all talk at school about their new boyfriends…”
How do we learn to follow instructions? We first must find the instructions. God has given us his instruction manual for our lives—the Bible. Once we have the instructions we must read them. But just reading the instructions will get you nowhere. You must then follow them step by step. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.” When following God’s instructions we must trust them with all of our heart; not some of it. If we do not trust his directions with everything we are we will not have the strength or passion to follow them completely. Finally, we must listen to our instructors. God sometimes comes in the form of skin. He will speak his instructions for our lives through our fathers, mothers, coaches, teachers, etc. We must heed their advice as Proverbs says because it is often God speaking to us.
How will following the Instructions benefit you? If you remain patient and follow the instructions, the world will eventually lose and you will win. They may talk about their girlfriends, boyfriends, parties, hangovers and perverse T.V. shows and appear that they have found happiness but in the end they are left empty and downcast –they lose, you win. Finally, you will stand the test when the storms come and will receive the crown of life (James 1:12).
Follow Instruction and in the end you will be wise and blessed!
Ryan Austin
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