This week we welcomed all of our incoming 10th graders. Were glad to have all of you as a part of Transit!
I continued teaching this week on understanding our value in Christ; not only understanding our value, but treating ourselves as though we are valuable.
I talked about how, when I was in elementary school, I got a 15 cent per week allowance. Even adjusted for inflation, it might be 30 cents today. That small allowance did a great job of teaching me to value things. I would literally have to save for 10 weeks to buy a Star Wars figure. Because I had to work so hard to earn and save the money for those toys, I truly valued them. I did not throw them all into a bin or let much of anyone play with them. I had each one in little cases along with all of the little guns, light sabers and accessories that came with them.
Maybe it also made me a little O.C.D. too, but I did learn to value my toys. I did not ever break my toys or leave them in dirt piles outside. In fact, I'm not sure they ever went outside the house -- event the Tonka dump trucks that were made for dirt.
OK, maybe I was a little anal retentive.
But the point is that when you value something, you treat it differently than when you do not. If we get hold of the concept of our value in God's eyes we will look at ourselves differently, we might think differently, eat differently or choose friends differently.
Romans 5 tells us that while we still sinners (read: messed up), Christ was crucified for us. What does that tell you about your value to God. In Romans 5:17 we find out that, through the work of Christ, we've been made to reign in THIS life.
Genesis 1:26 says we're made in the image and likeness of God. It also goes on to say that we have been made to have dominion and authority over this world. That doesn't mean over other people. But we were made to have dominion over our environment; over those things that mold and shape our image of who we are.
Finally, in Revelation 1:6, we are told that Jesus' redemptive power has made us kings and priests in this world. Kings are those who are successful and bring wealth into the Kingdom. The priests are those whose efforts directly expand the Kingdom. Any way you look at it, you are a valuable part of what God is doing in this world!
See you all next week!
