Filed under: April
Posted by Darius Sanders
Scripture: Romans 5:19
Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.
Own words / Observations
This verse is talking about the difference between Adam, the first human on the Earth, and Jesus. Since Adam was disobedient to God, it set a model that a lot of people after him followed by being disobedient to God. When Jesus came along however, He was obedient to God and he set a model that a lot of people after him followed of living right.
Application
As a leader, people are looking to what I do as a model for what they should do in life. This can be a good thing or a bad thing. If like Adam I’m being disobedient to God, people will follow that model and a lot of people will turn away from Him. If however I’m being like Christ in being obedient to God, people will follow that model and a lot of people will be drawn closer to God.
When I was in high school, my youth pastor made a very poor decision in his personal life. He thought that his decision wouldn’t affect anybody, but it ended up hurting his family, our church at large, and a lot of students in the ministry. Some students walked away from Christ that day and to my knowledge have never returned to Him. Sadly, his poor decision turned a lot of people away from Christ.
As students and Student Ministries leaders at Palm Valley church, let today be a reminder to you that Christian and non-Christian students are looking at the model you set for them. If you’re setting a poor example for others, don’t be surprised if they turn their backs on God. However, if you’re living your life on fire for Christ, that will motivate others around you to be more passionate about Him as well.
Prayer
God, it’s hard being a leader. It seems as if a spotlight is constantly on my life. If I make one lapse in judgment, the effects that that could have in the lives of students, leaders, and adults at Palm Valley Church could be monumental. My prayer to You today is that I would use the spotlight that has been placed on my life to set a shining example for others to see and follow.
Posted by: Jeremiah
Scripture:
” Abba, Father,” he cried out, “everything is possible for you. Please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Mark 14:36
Own Words:
Jesus is begging God to not make him go through the pain. Jesus knows that he is about to die and is asking God to not make him go through it. But more importantly, Jesus says that he wants God’s will to be done. He wants things to happen the way that God wants them to happen.
Apply It:
So often in life I am asking God to do things my way. When things don’t turn out my way, I get upset. I need to remember that even Jesus had to do things sometimes that he didn’t want to do, but He did it because he knew that God had asked him to.
Pray:
God thanks so much for sending Jesus to this earth. Thank you for forgiving me and through that pain allowing me to have a relationship with you. Please help me to always do things your way and not mine, no matter how hard it may be.
Filed under: April
S- Mark11:25 – But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.
O – God is willing to forgive me for my wrongs, but I must first forgive others for the wrongs that they committed against me.
A – I have to forgive others just as God forgives me or else God can’t forgive me.
P – God help me to forgive and forget the wrongs that are done to me. Just as you forgive my wrongs against you.
Filed under: April
Posted by Mike Bullock
S: Mar 12:30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.
O: No matter what else happens, no matter what else you do, make sure you love the Lord first and foremost. If you love God above everything else, you’ll do his will, follow his teachings and make the entire world a better place, bringing it all one step further to the Kingdom of Heaven.
A: If I stop before making any decision or action and make sure that decision or action is motivated by a love of God, then all those words, deeds and thoughts will honor Him and make my life and the lives of those I come in contact with better.
P: Father God, please remind me at every moment of every day why I love you so much, and please grant me the self control to ensure that all my words and actions grow out of that love. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
Filed under: April
By Mike Bullock
S: Mar 4:26-27 He also said, “This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how.”
O: The words we speak carry on even after we’re not around or even awake to continue the conversation. These words can help others, or hurt others, so we have to be careful just what words we choose to share with the world.
A: I need to make sure the words I speak are like Miracle Grow, always nurturing the soil in which they sprout, instead of using words and saying things that act like weed killer, poisoning the ground and hurting everything around them.
P: Father God, please continue to weed out the garden of my heart, prune away the dead branches that cause me to misstep and nurture that which helps me to be encouraging, through your Word, to those I connect with every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
