Values in Motion (Part 1)

     We all have values.  They permeate our lives and show themselves in our actions and behavior.  Our values (and our character as a whole) are what we do when no one is looking - and what we're willing to stand for when others are looking.

     Whether we realize it or not, we all have our own values.  Many times, though, we don't know what those values are.  That's a bit of a scary thought, isn't it?  Deep in your heart, you stand for something - but you may not even know what it is!

     So how to we know what are our values?  One of the easiest ways to spot our values is in one place: our ethics.

     Now to a lot of us, "values" and "ethics" seem kind of synonymous.  Aren't they the exact same?  No, they're not.  While they deal with the same issue (our character), ethics are when our values are put into practice.

     The best way I've heard it stated was this: Ethics are values in motion.

     The main difference between values and ethics is that values are subconscious ideas, whereas ethics are conscious decisions.  The conscious choices you make reflect the values that you hold.  You choose your priorities, and you govern your time accordingly - all according to your values.

     But what affect do values have in our lives and futures?  Where do we get our values - and can we change them?  Because there are so many points to this topic, I will have to save them for the next post.

     Until then, take a look at the ethics in your life - your choices.  What do your decisions say about your values?  Every choice we make continues to build up a value.  What values are we building?

Be the Example

     I'm really sorry I haven't written anything for a while.  I thought summer would give me a lot of extra time, but (as often happens) that wasn't the case!

     As one of the many things I've done these past few weeks, I gave the sermon at my church last Sunday.  It was definitely a great experience, and one I hope to have again in the future.  Until then, however, I thought it would be good to share a little bit of what I spoke about last week.

     The main verse of the sermon was 1 Timothy 4:12 (the verse pictured above).  In our youth-centered society, the church loves this verse.  "Let no one despise your youth"... We teens certainly enjoy the supposed freedom from this verse regarding age discrimination.

     There's a problem, though.  This isn't the end of the verse!  If we truly want to claim these words, "Let no on despise your youth," we need to look at what is required in the proceeding text, "but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity" (emphasis added).

     Often times we want to just take the first part of the verse and leave off the second.  But how can we expect not to be "looked down on" when we're not being "the example to the believers"?  This verse isn't just  a feel-good message, it's an expectation for our behavior as young Christians.

     To illustrate my point, I took the congregation to the story of David and Goliath in 1 Samuel chapter 17.  In this story, Saul "looked down upon" David, so to speak.  In spite of this, however, David rose up and conquered the 10-foot Philistine (whose armor, by the way, weighed as much as I do) with a single stone when no one else would.

     This too is one of America's favorite passages regarding youth.  But if you read chapter 17 of 1 Samuel, you see that David did not just stride in to battle willy-nilly (Did I really just use that phrase?).  David had an example to match his boldness.

     David was obedient to his father without question (verses 17-20), he gave all glory to God (34-37), he walked in courage and not fear (45-47), and portrayed many other character traits throughout the chapter.

     You see, before we expect to seen as mature Christians, we need to exemplify the behavior of such.  And in order to find out how to be that example, we must look to the word of God and to the example of Jesus Christ.

     There are many who follow behind us.  They are looking for our example, to see what we will stand for and what we will stand against.  They are looking for us to be the example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity.  What will they see?

To Be Continued...

     We all know these words.  "To Be Continued" are debatably the 3 worst words in modern America.  Nothing crushes a great TV episode quite like a mandatory waiting period.  

     TV shows nowadays have a way of getting you to form theories, predict endings, and heighten your hopes like never before.  You have a big "plan" of sorts for how you think it may end, only to be left with these three resounding words echoing in mysterious despair.  

     Why am I going on about TV shows, you ask?  There is actually a very good reason (and it's not just because I like TV...).  Just like an audience watching an episode of their favorite show, God looks down on humanity, waiting - hoping earnestly - for His own plan to be fulfilled.  Except unlike an audience, God has power over the outcome.

     God looks down on the lives of His children, piecing together every one of our problems to evolve into a magnificent climax that could make even a grown man shed a tear or two in delight.*  

     But where does this "To Be Continued" phrase come into play?  As God watches and guides our lives, sometimes we don't see His big plan.  Sometimes we want to put the brakes on things and say "Wait a minute God, can we just stop here and come back a little later?"  

     The problem is, we push things off without realizing that God is piecing it all together into His wonderful plan.  We need to stop trying to force our own twists into God's holy "plot", and just allow the great Director of our life's film to piece together the ending that will blow our minds.

     Don't label God's plan with a simple "To Be Continued."  No one likes those words.  And remember this: neither does He.

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     *"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

The Power of Silence

Romans 14:22b, NKJV

     It's been said that "Actions speak louder than words."  And in a way, this is true.  Just saying we'll do something but not sticking to our word does not say much good about our character.  Actions certainly do speak.  But words do as well.  Have you ever considered, though, how much power is in our silence?  That is the topic of this week's post.

     As I've learned about leadership, one of the best sayings I've heard is "Silence is acceptance."  This holds so much truth.  No one truly knows our opinion unless we speak our mind.  Otherwise the opinion of the majority will rule.

     So what if we don't speak our mind?  What if we stay silent about our faith or convictions?  What does that say?  Quite understandably, it says nothing.  In the sight of bystanders, we've just proved our faith to be, well... we haven't really proved our faith to be anything!  But that's the point.  Our silence does not prove anything about our faith.

     In the presence of sinful conversation, action, or overall environment, what does silence do?  It does nothing.  In fact, this goes a step further: silence shows that we are completely comfortable with the situation. Our silence "approves" what's going on, which is just what Romans 14:22 mentions.

     Are you condemning yourself in what you approve?  Is your silence showing others that you're content with sin?  This is something that I struggle with often.

    Silence is acceptance.  What are you accepting?

There's More to the Story

Romans 14:8-9, NKJV

     If asked what Jesus did for you, what would you say?  Most people would say that He died for them.  And what a humbling statement to think that He would die for us - unworthy, dirty sinners!  The problem is, though, many times we just stop there.  We don't see that there was much more than just a death needed to save us.  We don't see the big picture.

     Now in no way am I minimizing the death of Christ.  When He died, He took our sins forever to be labelled as His.  I can never ignore that!  But what made His death so powerful?  Thousands of people have died for the uplifting of God's kingdom.  What made this so special?

     You see, if Satan can't use us for his evil purposes, he might as well try to take us off the earth so we can't do any good.*  So wouldn't that make Jesus's death a victory for Satan?  The answer is a strong and resounding no.  

     Just after the fall in Genesis 3, God curses Satan, saying "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel."  Satan certainly got his punch in, but Jesus's was yet to come.

     The part of the story we most leave out is this: Jesus rose from the dead!  He conquered death, so it couldn't have dominion on us!  Without that piece of the puzzle, we'd just be serving a dead god.

     So how does all this relate to Romans 14:8-9?  This verse emphasizes Jesus's reign over both the living and the dead.  Without His resurrection, we would have no hope!  Now, however, nothing (not even death) can separate us from Christ's love.  

      If you're living, Christ is Lord.  If you're not, Christ is still Lord.**  Jesus is Lord of all!  "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ... For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 38-39).

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     *Despite this fact, God will sustain those for which He still has a use on earth.  It's the reason you're here!  For a purpose.  If you didn't have one, you wouldn't be here on earth.  (But that's another post topic entirely)

     **Of course now that I think about it, I guess zombies are a little out of luck...     

A Letter to the Future You

Sometimes we wish we could have a conversation with ourselves once in a while.  A talk, heart-to-heart, where we could be completely and brutally honest - where we could talk about our deepest struggles, pains, longings, sings, and more.  That would be great, wouldn't it?

Last year, at a Family Bible Camp at Camp Yolijwa in PA, our Senior High leader had us write a letter to ourselves.  He collected them, each completely sealed, and then mailed them back to us a few months later for us to reflect upon our own words.

This experience had an incredible impact.  It was the first chance I had ever been given to have a true conversation with myself, and every time I read the letter, I am humbled over and over again.  This is a more generalized version of my letter (the original is quite specific and personal), but I hope that you could be blessed by it - and maybe inspired to write one of these yourself.

"Dear Nathan,

Many times you might not take the time to think of where God has brought from.  The struggles you had years ago may not be the same ones you have now.  Take the time today to think of just how far Christ has brought you - and how insignificant you still are compared to all that He did.   

You don't struggle with the same vices that you did before, but I know that there are deeper things that lie within you that tear you apart even more.  Be honest with yourself.  You've compromised your morals, tried to "fit in" and "measure up", you've had sinful thoughts and a bad attitude with your parents, and most of all a deeply rooted pride.  

Don't think that just because you know more than others, don't do everything they do, and do extra good things that they don't, that you somehow don't need God as much as others.  You need Him just as much as they do - and even more.

 I know that you have plans for your future - going to Bible college, finding the woman whom you will marry, and eventually starting a family of your own.  But don't forget that before you can do any of these things, you must first love God with all of your heart and continue growing ever closer to Him.   

You're already reading scripture daily - great!  But don't let it end there.  Don't read it just to get it over with and checked off a list.  Ask God and beg Him to show you things that you've never seen before.  Plead daily that God will mold your heart to be closer to His and to make you broken before Him, to have a heart yearning for others to know Him better, and to think of yourself less - but God more.  

Don't let your feelings for one girl obstruct your desire for the perfect wife.  Feelings pass away - you're seen it before.  Just watch others' actions and their heart before thinking any more of them.  Be patient and trust in Christ for Him to find the right one.  

Stay strong in the Lord and keep growing closer to Him in all you do.

His blessings,

Nathan. 

Share Your Input

     I'll apologize right now: this isn't really a legitimate post.  I'm sorry I haven't been posting as often as I'd like!  Unfortunately, I won't be able to get to writing a post until after this weekend.  But until then, I'd like to direct you to a new page of the blog: Share Your Input.

     This page allows you to share your thoughts about Not Just a Teen, about life as a Christian; about anything, really!  Well... within reason, I suppose.

     If you have any comments to share, questions that you'd like to pose to other Christian teens, or any other feedback, this is your chance to share!  You can recommend future posts or simply share your thoughts.  You can suggest changes or improvements, share what you've been learning in your walk with Christ lately, share new ideas, or anything else you have on your mind!

     I invite you to check out the new page and share your input.  I'd love to hear from you!

     Nathan.

     P.S.  The Rebelution, my favorite site (by far) for Christian teens, has recently re-vamped their website.  There are many more possibilities and opportunities for you to share and receive ideas for doing hard things, plus countless other articles and videos for your encouragement.  Check them out!