As Vacation Bible School approaches in less than a week, I feel so ill-prepared and it's my own fault. Yes, I have prepared the materials and decorations and incentives for learning Scripture and good behavior (candy, books, pencils, and other rewards), but I have been lacking in prayer. Oh, don't get me wrong, I have been praying, but the overwhelming sense of responsibility has recently hit me and I feel like I haven't prayed enough.
When I say 'responsibility', I don't mean in the physical sense, I mean more in terms of spiritually. I will be in charge of approximately 35 third and fourth grade boys for an entire week. Some of these boys may not attend church. Some may not come from a loving home. For others, this may be the most attention they will receive all summer until school begins again and their teacher is there to pick up the pieces from their shattered home life. My attitude and demeanor can greatly influence how receptive these boys are to the Gospel. If I am having a bad day, my bad attitude could negatively impact their view of Christians. That is scary to me! Actions speak louder than words, and there is a verse that I read today that really supports this thought- "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:14, 24, 26).
I guess what I'm getting at is that I hope I not only share my faith by my words, but that my actions support it. Not just today. Not just next week. But always. I know people who claim to know Christ and be a Christian, but their lifestyle says otherwise. They live as they please, don't go to church, or when they do go to church, it is for the wrong reason (a tradition at Christmas). It is people like this who give Christians a bad name, and I want to stay away from that. Christ has done some miraculous changes in my heart, and I pray my lifestyle reflects those changes. They haven't been easy, and in fact, have caused strained relationships because other people feel I have changed too much.
Oh well. Their loss. My gain. Now that I understand the fear of the Lord, I fully realize Who I will be answering to when my physical life comes to an end and why it is important to live life for the Lord. They, on the other hand, do not understand this or choose to ignore it. I feel sorry for them because "we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Of course, this judgement is only for those who are saved. Non-Christians have a different judgement, one that condemns them to an eternity in Hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
So back to VBS. Like I said, today I fully realized the responsibility I have been given, and I pray I carry out the Lord's work to His honor and glory.
*I am thankful for my Bible because Scripture is used to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me for righteousness.*
When I say 'responsibility', I don't mean in the physical sense, I mean more in terms of spiritually. I will be in charge of approximately 35 third and fourth grade boys for an entire week. Some of these boys may not attend church. Some may not come from a loving home. For others, this may be the most attention they will receive all summer until school begins again and their teacher is there to pick up the pieces from their shattered home life. My attitude and demeanor can greatly influence how receptive these boys are to the Gospel. If I am having a bad day, my bad attitude could negatively impact their view of Christians. That is scary to me! Actions speak louder than words, and there is a verse that I read today that really supports this thought- "What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead" (James 2:14, 24, 26).
I guess what I'm getting at is that I hope I not only share my faith by my words, but that my actions support it. Not just today. Not just next week. But always. I know people who claim to know Christ and be a Christian, but their lifestyle says otherwise. They live as they please, don't go to church, or when they do go to church, it is for the wrong reason (a tradition at Christmas). It is people like this who give Christians a bad name, and I want to stay away from that. Christ has done some miraculous changes in my heart, and I pray my lifestyle reflects those changes. They haven't been easy, and in fact, have caused strained relationships because other people feel I have changed too much.
Oh well. Their loss. My gain. Now that I understand the fear of the Lord, I fully realize Who I will be answering to when my physical life comes to an end and why it is important to live life for the Lord. They, on the other hand, do not understand this or choose to ignore it. I feel sorry for them because "we must all appear before the judgement seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad" (2 Corinthians 5:10). Of course, this judgement is only for those who are saved. Non-Christians have a different judgement, one that condemns them to an eternity in Hell (Revelation 20:11-15).
So back to VBS. Like I said, today I fully realized the responsibility I have been given, and I pray I carry out the Lord's work to His honor and glory.
*I am thankful for my Bible because Scripture is used to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me for righteousness.*
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