God’s way is often contrary to the world’s. Our culture says, “Don’t let anyone push you around, “but Jesus teaches that it is the merciful, the meek, and the peacemakers who are successful in God’s kingdom (Matthew 5:5-9). The world encourages material prosperity and personal comfort, while Scripture says we are successful when we become more like Jesus and follow God’s plan.
True success starts with our thinking. Picture your mind as a computer that regulates your attitudes and actions, directing your response in different situations. Since our decisions are made on the basis of values and priorities stored in the mind, our responsibility as Christ followers is to feed it a steady diet of God’s Word. Only scriptural truth can counter the continuous stream of ungodly or useless data that daily barrages our thinking. The Bible is the standard by which we screen the various ideas and attitudes that come our way (Philippines 4:8).
When we meditate on Scripture and value God’s standards in our mind, our words and actions will follow suit. Let’s opt out of the world’s love of power and material success – and instead become the people God planned for us to be. Then we can accomplish His purposes for us. That is real success!
Please open your bible to the following scripture: Colossians 3:5-10
Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.
Thoughts from Colossians 3:5-10
We must rid ourselves of all evil practices and immorality and commit ourselves to what Christ teaches. This way of life is given to us by Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. It is our responsibility to display love, faith, and hope. The more we know of Christ and his work, the more we are being changed to be like him. Because this process is lifelong, we must never stop learning and obeying. We must be willing to give when others take, to love when others hate, to help when others abuse and use our time to serve others.
Key thought: Read God’s Word and pray.
Blessings from the Youth Committee
References: God’s Word NIV and In Touch Ministries