Category: Personal

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. (Matthew 5:3)

For the original audience, this would have been a shocking statement. It should also be shocking to us!

First, this teaching was (and is) counterintuitive. How can a spiritually poor person possess a spiritual kingdom? Common sense – in this case, the definition of words – tells us that poverty is the opposite of possessions.

Second, this teaching was (and is) countercultural. People assume that the kingdom of heaven belongs to the spiritually rich—the religious leaders and spiritual professionals.

A ladder is only useful if the first step is close to the ground. The Good News is that everyone can become poor in spirit. It’s a step that literally anyone can take.

Entering God’s kingdom begins once we admit spiritual poverty, which is humility. This is what it means to be saved by grace through faith in Jesus. Humility believes that we are not enough, but that Jesus is.

Humility is attractive—we like humble people—but few people choose to humble themselves before God and others. There are many challenges to a life of humility. The temptations come from within our hearts and are encouraged by the messages around us. Nor can we forget the enemy, who is constantly working to create distance between us and God.

Humility ought to be a daily habit, we should never “grow” out of spiritual poverty. We need to create personal rituals and reminders that increase our dependence on God while decreasing how much we rely on our own understanding.

How did spiritual poverty show up in your life today?

YES! Jesus wants you to be happy!

What is happiness and how do we get there?

This seems like an easy question! Everyone wants to be happy. Here’s where things get interesting: that are conflicting ideas on how to get there.

Some people love to be liked, and their happiness grows with their popularity. Others love to achieve and accumulate, so their pursuits travel down those roads. Some people love peace, and they avoid conflicts—at all costs—just to be happy.

Jesus wants us to be happy, but it’s according to his definition, not ours. Let’s call this True Happiness since many people have discovered that their own understandings of happiness have failed to deliver.

True Happiness starts by admitting that we can’t achieve it on our own. Jesus tells us, “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” This means admitting, in the deepest parts of who we are, that we are spiritually bankrupt.

We want to pay for happiness, but we simply can’t afford it. When we make this confession, we receive what our souls desperately need.

This is foolishness! It’s like going to the most expensive store in the world, and looking at the most extravagant thing for sale, and then telling the store owner you can’t afford it. He then gives it to you, as a gift.

Are you ready to be happy? Have you wandered from True Happiness?

By the way, if you are interested in learning more about True Happiness, look at Matthew 5:3-10.

“… an inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade.” (1 Peter 1:4)

When our hope is in the world and its empty promises, we will always be unsatisfied. Our destiny is disappointment when we live for physical pleasures, emotional highs, and mental diversions.

These things are temporary because they are grounded in us—our perspectives, our needs. We are always changing and rarely consistent. Need proof?

Look no further than your fears.

• If you fear failure, even your greatest successes will fade.
• If you fear rejection, acceptance from others will spoil.
• If you fear the unknown, your control has limits and will perish.

Our inheritance from God is eternal and unchanging. It is not like a body that dies, or food that spoils, or colors that fade.

Life is a mix of good things and bad things. Triumph lies next to tragedy. One child reaches new heights while another one discovers new depths. A friend builds up while an enemy tears down. We succeed one moment and fail the next—only to live with memories of both.

In all situations, we must trust in the gift of God. This is our living hope, our strength.

How so?

Trusting in the gift takes our focus off our situation and our needs—whether they are fulfilled or frustrated—and lifts our eyes to Jesus.

The best way to describe the things of this world: “This too shall pass.” But not the gift of God.

Solomon’s reign was the “golden age” of Israel, but there was a heavy price: the people were overworked and looking for relief.

The elders counseled Rehoboam to ease up the pressure. This would win the hearts of the people … they would be his loyal servants.

Rehoboam rejected the elders. He then asked youngers, who were his friends, for counsel. It’s not hard to believe that they were quick to tell him what he wanted to hear: push the people harder.

Rehoboam’s recklessness split the kingdom, and Jeroboam became the king in the North. Rehoboam went on to reign for 17 years, but he led his people away from God. The heights of Solomon’s reign found its opposite in the depths of Rehoboam’s leadership.

What motivated Rehoboam? To be fair, Scripture doesn’t tell us directly what was in his heart.

It’s clear that Rehoboam rejected the wisdom of the elders and embraced the folly of immature. We know that his rejection of wisdom was ultimately a rejection of God. He was the opposite of Solomon.

You have influence–everyone does. That is, unless you are alone on a castaway island with great wifi. How will you use your influence? Will you remove burdens from others or will you increase them? Do you need advice? What will you do if you don’t agree?

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2 John 12)

John used the technology of his time—paper and ink—to influence others. He also knew that some things were best shared in person.

As youth workers, we know the power of “face-to-face” ministry—this is why we design our ministry programs (like small groups) to build relationships. Being with people is powerful. One thing we’ve learned from the pandemic is how much people need people.
Technology has its place! According to tradition, John wrote five books in the New Testament—beefy ones too! Consider this:

Ten sentences can be duplicated and read by a thousand people—that’s a wide net. Those same people can read those ten sentences a thousand times—this net also goes deep. The technology of paper and ink is impressive.

There’s an important principle in this Scripture: There are different ways to build relationships, and each way comes with strengths and weaknesses.

As youth workers, we could contextualize this Scripture with the following:

“I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use texting or direct messages. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.”

Digital communication is great! (a) It’s instant, (b) it’s what students use every day (dozens or even hundreds of times), (c) it’s passive in that a student can decide if/when they are going to respond, and finally, (d) emojis.

Here’s my first challenge: consider using your phone to make a “voice-to-voice” connection rather than texting. For many of us, this sounds crazy and maybe even scary! Phone calls make a huge impact. Think about calling rather than texting.

Let’s use the weight of this principle to push a little more for a second challenge:

Group time is great! I believe every student needs to be in a group because it’s a GREAT way to build relationships.

However, group time also has strengths and weaknesses. Students also need one-on-one conversations. These take more time and effort, but it results in better discipleship. Think about spending one-on-one time with your students.

In short, we need to use every possible tool to disciple and build relationships: group time, texts, handwritten notes, phone calls, and one-on-one meetings. You don’t need to do everything, all the time (it’s not possible), but make sure you aren’t stuck in a rut.

Change things up as you feel God is leading so that you can make deeper relational connections with your students.

Would you agree that trust is essential for any significant relationship?

Of course it is! If you look at the people closest to you, they are the ones who have earned your trust. When a person breaks your trust, you stop relying on them.

God is looking for people he can trust.

Jesus trusted John with a vital mission: “Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother … When Jesus saw his mother there, and [John] standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” and to [John], “Here is your mother.” From that time on, [John] took her into his home” (John 19:25-27, NLT).

Jesus trusted John with a mega-important responsibility: “Take care of my mom because I won’t be around to do it myself.”

Jesus trusted John, and he also wants to trust you and me. God has a vital mission for everyone who follows him: “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much” (Luke 16:10)

When God works in our lives, he begins by trusting us with a little. Once we have been faithful, he trusts us with more.

If you wanted to teach someone how to manage money, you wouldn’t start them off with a million dollars—that’s too much because the temptation to spend foolishly is too great! It would be better to start off with a much smaller amount.

This is a powerful principle about the spiritual life: be faithful with what you have. If you forget this, your spiritual growth will slow down, stagnate, and then stop.

Take time in prayer and refection to consider what God has entrusted to you. Think about your relationships, opportunities, and personal strengths.

Have you proven yourself to be trustworthy?

This is not about earning God’s love or working for salvation. God’s love is unconditional, and salvation is a gift.

This is about responding to God’s love by being faithful with what he has already given us.