Returning from teen camp is one of those bitter-sweet things, you know? It's like you're glad to be back home but you miss the daily worshiping of God and constant involvement in the word, as well as the fellowship with believers from all across the Missouri district.
Well, I'm here to tell you that all the best parts of teen camp can happen right where you're sitting. At teen camp, we learned that worshiping isn't singing, shouting, or any other action that you can perform. These things are how we express our worship. When we are obsessed with something we love -- such as video games, movies, celebrities, or appearance -- we spend a lot of time "worshiping" or praising that thing. We spend our free time on it, we create time to do it, we talk about it with our friends. Do you see what I'm saying? Here, this is what God's Word says on the subject:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is -- his good, pleasing and perfect will."
Romans 12: 1 - 2
Isn't it interesting that to worship God, we must offer our bodies as living sacrifices? That means that what we do with our bodies -- how we live our lives, the choices we make, what we do in our free time and the character we display while we work -- all these things are acts of worship, more than singing, shouting, etc.
And to "be transformed by the renewing of your mind", we must read God's word so that we will know God's will for our lives.
Don't just be a Teen Camp Christian. Read the Bible daily -- true commitment to God isn't something you put on a shelf. It's something you put into practice every day of your life.
May the Grace and Peace of Jesus Christ our Lord be with you,
Seth Lyons
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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