A Teenager’s Perspective

            Isn’t it funny how technology runs our lives?  We need it 24/7 or most of us would go into panic mode.  But why?  I thought about and think that maybe that is one of the reasons we fall away from God so quickly and easily. 

            The world today has made us believe that whatever we need, can be made by some machine.  However, to truly live a happy, fulfilling life we need God.  Unfortunately, we like to think, “Who needs God when we have the newest gadget out there.  It’s all fake happiness!  As a teen I know how it is to constantly feel the need to text, or check my Facebook.  But, when do I need God?  Is he a priority in my life like my social life is?  We need to just stop worrying about having the coolest car, the newest phone, and the fastest computer, and start worrying about who we’re living for!  Matthew 6:25 says, “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear.  Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?”  We have become blinded by all the worldly pleasures that are at our fingertips.  We forget that God is all powerful!  His love and what He can do for us is so much greater than the next I-pod or newest 3-D television.  He loves us for who we are, and not for the things we own, and in the end, none of those things will matter.  Luke 12:15, “The He said to them.  ‘Watch out!  Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.’”  When will we stop thirsting for the next big thing, and start thirsting for God in our lives, because without Him, nothing is possible, and we need to realize that.  Matthew 19:26, “Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.’”

            Live for something bigger than yourself.  The world won’t always be here.  Friends, phones, I-pods, and computers won’t always be here.  But God will!  Hebrews 13:5 tells us, “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’”  Let’s start giving Him the love and gratitude He deserves.

Siara McWilliams (age 16)

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To sum up Peter’s discussion on submission, he stresses that we are to live in harmony with one another as brothers.  We are not to repay evil with evil, or insult for insult but instead giving blessings.  He says that for this we were called to do.  The world teaches the direct opposite as did Peter and if we are going to be called Christians then we had better heed his teachings for they mirror the teaching of Christ.

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 Study on 1 Peter, September 19, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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2 Timothy2:21-22 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor.  Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work. Flee also youthful lusts; but pursue righteousness, faith, love, peace with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart.

I heard a story once about two farmers, both dealing with a terrible drought.  They both prayed to God for rain, but each reacted differently afterwards.  One farmer sat on his porch and wait to see if God would answer his prayer and when the rains came was ill-prepared for it.  The other farmer immediately began plowing his fields because he has the faith that God would provide.  The second farmer prepare for the rain.
The same analogy can be used when it comes to church growth.  If that is our prayer then we must ask:  Are we prepared for the growth?  I believe there some things we can do to prepare for rain.  As a church family we must offer assemblies that edify, and we must assimilate and nurture mew members.  As individual members we must strengthen our relationships with God, with one another, and most importantly with the lost.  May we apply these simple things to our church life as we prepare for rain.

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 Are We Preparing For Rain? September 12, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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In the final section on submission given by Peter, he discusses the relationship between husband and wife.  He says that woman are to submit to their husbands, not so that man may dominate her, but so as to have an opportunity to save him by her actions.  He goes on to say that this kinds of action will not only be commendable before God, but will also bring the beautiful spirit that has been given her by God.

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 Study on 1 Peter, September 12, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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Matthew 10:34-37 Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword.  For I have come to  ‘set  a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and  ‘a man’s enemies will be  those of his own  household.’  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me.  And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.

When you look at our responsibilities as Christians, you sometimes forget that some of them are simply taking care of our earthly family as instructed by God.  For instance, the Christians man is to love and honor his wife, and to train his children in the ways of the Lord, disciplining them as they go.  The Christian woman is to love and honor her husband, and train her children in the ways of the Lord, while keeping a good home life.  Christian children are to love, honor, and obey their parents, and learn how to follow the Lord.  And even those who are neither married, nor have any children are to honor God with their service to Him, while building relationships with the church family.  To put it simply, we are all to honor and love, which is why Christ said that was the greatest command.

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 The Responsibilities of the Christian to His/Her Family, September 5, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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In our second installment of submitting as the Lord desires, we find that once we have submitted to governing authorities, Peter then asks that we submit to our slave masters.  When Peter wrote this he was actually telling servants to submit to their masters whether be just or not.  While we no longer see such practices today, we can compare this to us submitting to our employers no matter how they treat us.  As hard as this is to swallow sometimes, we must understand that if we can’t learn to submit on earth, then how will be able to submit in heaven.

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 Study on 1 Peter, September 5, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  And though I have the gift of  prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

If someone were to ask me what one word describes what Christianity is all about, I would emphatically say that it is love.  Once Jesus was asked what is the greatest command and His answer was the same, “Love God, and love each other.”  You see that love is the catalyst of all things Christian.

To prove this to be true and by looking at some facts we find that there are 11 different words for love in the Hebrew text, and 4 words for love in the Greek, meaning that it is important.  When one looks closely at the examples of Christ with regards to love, the definition is clear:  We are to love unconditionally, that is show agape (Greek) or khesed (Hebrew) to God and to man.  In the end, love really is all you need!

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 All You Need is LOVE, August 29, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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This weeks study is not the most popular because it deals with two things that people tend to struggle with, submission and submission to the government.

In today’s society it is hard to submit to the government when it is doing so many things that may be against our beliefs and ideals, but Peter makes two things clear here, we are to submit to the government and they are in authority because God put them there.  As hard as this seems to be to swallow, this has been happening for a very long time.

In Daniel chapter 1 we read that the Babylonians took captive Judah and Jerusalem because that was what God chose to happen.  His servant Daniel then proceeded to become the best servant to Babylon while continuing his devotion to God.  We are being asked here to do the same.

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 Study on 1 Peter, August 29, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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1 Chronicles 28:1-9 Now David assembled at Jerusalem all the leaders of Israel: the officers of the tribes and the captains of the divisions who served the king, the captains over thousands and captains over hundreds, and the stewards over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officials, the valiant men, and all the mighty men of valor.
Then King David rose to his feet and said, “Hear me, my brethren and my people: I had it in my heart to build a house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made preparations to build it.  But God said to me, ‘You shall not build a house for My name, because you have been a man of war and have shed blood.’  However the LORD God of Israel chose me above all the house of my father to be king over Israel forever, for He has chosen Judah to be the ruler. And of the house of Judah, the house of my father, and among the sons of my father, He was pleased with me to make me king over all Israel.  And of all my sons (for the LORD has given me many sons) He has chosen my son Solomon to sit on the throne of the kingdom of the LORD over Israel.  Now He said to me, ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build My house and My courts; for I have chosen him to be My son, and I will be his Father.  Moreover I will establish his kingdom forever, if he is steadfast to observe My commandments and My judgments, as it is this day.’  Now therefore, in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, be careful to seek out all the commandments of the LORD your God, that you may possess this good land, and leave it as an inheritance for your children after you forever.
“As for you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a loyal heart and with a willing mind; for the LORD searches all hearts and understands all the intent of the thoughts. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off forever.

When fathers prepare to leave this world it is not uncommon to find them leaving some last words for their loved ones to remember.  King David was no different.  As he prepares to leave, he has some words for his beloved son, Solomon.  He simply tells Solomon to remember the God of his fathers, and serve Him with a wholehearted devotion and a willing mind.  He also tells him to make sure that his devotion is real because God knows the heart.  He then gives him words of comfort.  He says that when you seek God, He will let you find Him.  What more does a child of God need than to know that when we need the Lord, He will be there.  David then finishes by telling Solomon to be strong and do the work.  That message is for us as well!

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 From a Father to a Son, August 22, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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In 1 Peter 2:11-12 Peter again refers to the Christians as aliens and strangers in the world as he did in the beginning of the book.  He wants them to be clear of the importance of standing out from the world and by doing so they will cause those around them to glorify God at the second coming.  The question for us today is, are we standing out in this world or are we just trying to fit in?

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 Study on 1 Peter, August 22, 2010: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

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