Technology is both a blessing and a curse. It can be so useful in situations, and at other times the biggest time waster out there. I try to limit my time using it to just purely find fast and dumb entertainment, but every once in a while I find a use for google that is far beyond worth while.
I recently joined a women's bible study at my church. Tonight was our second meeting, and we are studying Beth Moore's "Children of the Day," which is focused on 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. Let me tell you, this study is already amazing. Not only is the study amazing, but the women I have met so far are truly beyond incredible. At 23 ( in 4 days:D ) and 25, my friend Haley and I are the youngest there. We're not even in the same group! But gleaning wisdom from this study and these women is unbelievable.The reason that I brought up this bible study is because in tonight's video teaching, Beth said something that hit me quite hard. " In a world of pretense and platforms, we better be ready to prove ourselves. 'You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.' (1 Thessalonians 1:5) " The basic context of this statement is that as believers we so often think that if the people around us who are not yet believers choose not to see the goodness of God, then it isn't our responsibility, we don't have to prove that he is. But what Beth is saying is that it IS. We have been called to PROVE it.
Okay Kimberly, focus. Back to google. This past weeks studies of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 has made me realize that I am so not of this world. I was not made for it. I was placed here for a specific purpose by the Lord God, Creator of all, but this is not where my hope lies. So with that thought in my head, I chose to simply type "I am made for so much more, because I am not of this world." I'm not even quite sure what I expected to find, but I will tell you right now, what I did broke my heart. I stumbled on a blogpost on the website "ExperienceProject." There was a person who wrote how they never felt they were made for this world, they didn't want any part of the cruelty and destruction and somehow there was this deeper, inner desire, LONGING to be a part of something more. They KNEW it in their very soul. What's interesting is that the people who left comments all said the same thing. All these people searching for that something more... but they don't know what it is. Do you know what broke my heart? The fact that not one of them said that Jesus, that heaven that SALVATION was the answer. And that's put on the shoulders of every single one of us who are believers in The Lord Jesus Christ.
You know, I don't believe that our longings and desires are just put at ease once we accept Christ as our Lord. Because I believe that he fills us with longing and desire to accomplish the tasks he has set before us. Such a righteous longing is a beautiful thing. I know I have them, and I am sure you do too. There are moments when I get a sense of longing for the things of this earth... but they so quickly fade when I am once again awestruck by the truth that NOTHING is better than a life that is Christ's. I am filled with so much wonder at the mystery of our Lord. There are no words to describe the sweetness of a life that is His alone. And it is our job to share that love, give the world a taste of it. We are to prove it! John 15:9 says "If you belonged to the world, it would love you as it's own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, BUT I HAVE CHOSEN YOU OUT OF THE WORLD. That is why the world hates you." This verse can both terrify and uplift believers. We have been chosen out of the world, wonderful! But the world hating us? Uh oh. Better avoid THAT. We can just stay in our Christian bubbles and love each other because it's easy. Maybe talk about our faith once in a while with a coworker, or a friend that doesn't know Jesus, but to actually live a life that PROVES the goodness of God? Yet we are charged with it.
I don't want this world. Give me Jesus! But let me also give Jesus to the lost and the broken, the hurting and angry. THAT is the life I want. Not being of this world does not mean that we turn our back on it. It's actually quite opposite. Let's march into battle together and show the world that HE IS GOOD!
