 | Making Your Spring Break Spiritual John Lynch, Evangelist, San Francisco Church of Christ - Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Col. 3:1-4
“Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”
Col. 3:1-4 (Message)
“So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it. Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you. Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—that’s where the action is. See things from his perspective.”
The year was 1992 and the day was February 28th; I was baptized and it was a great evening!! I remember counting the cost that day and realizing what it would take to really be a disciple. One thing we discussed was my pre-paid spring break trip to Keylargo Florida. Yes, the famous Florida Keys. I had my flight, hotel room and some cash to spend. I had to question whether or not this trip was going to help me spiritually. I knew the answer, but I kept thinking, “Maybe…I could just..” This was a big struggle for me. All of my friends were going off to spend the “time of their lives” in some ocean get-away. What was I going to do? I needed to go to the Bible and get some faith.
Through my Bible studies, I had been taught to go to the scriptures for answers. I sat down and opened the Bible to the book of Colossians and started reading. I had to set my mind and my heart to get through this challenge. I made a decision from the scripture that I could have a great spring break and do well spiritually. The first thing I set my mind to do was to learn to love and enjoy the things God loves and enjoys. So that sent me on my next journey through the scriptures.
1. Happiness or Hardness?
Are you happy being a disciple? Why or why not? If you learn to set your mind and heart you will be a lot happier as a person. Learning to love what God loves was a cool concept that changed and motivated me. I have been a disciple for nine years, in the ministry for seven and I have lived by this principal all of my Christian life. God loves to see people saved; I love to study the bible with people! Matter of fact God throws a BBQ; I love BBQ’s. (Luke 15:7- 9 & 24-27 ) This really interested me and made me want to explore what God loves.
2. What is Fun?
Ephesians 4:22-24 “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Studying this out really forced me to think about what made me happy. The scriptures teach that our old self (the desires we are tempted with) are deceitful desires. My old life: going to parties, getting drunk, foul language, talking about people, picking up girls. These were all empty desires that filled my flesh with arrogance and pride. I wasn’t happy doing these things but my mind and my heart were tricked. I was deceived. Just think about it: going out to drink all night, getting sick, not being able to wake up the next day, feeling even sicker…sound like fun?? No way! I needed to be made new in the attitude of my mind and put on my new self. Have you ever stopped to think about what you really wanted to be in life? Do you want to be a great student? Have a great job? Do you want to be someone people respect? Have a great marriage? I used to think about these things all the time as a 21 yr old, but I blew it off because I knew that it would take hard work. Once my mind changed, my attitude followed and I began pursuing what was important.
3. What is Mind Change?
The word repent actually means to change your mind. God knows that when we think different we live different and that is the goal of every person who becomes a disciple. Many times we try too hard to change and put too much pressure on ourselves. The key is to work on thinking differently. Are you struggling with your purity? What do you really think about purity? What does the Bible say about purity? Do you think the same way the Bible does about purity? How do you feel about any sin? What does the Bible say about it? Read the scriptures and your mind will change and you will just do it!
Exciting Ideas for Spring Break
1. Get some college disciples together and “road trip” to see other disciples.
2. Spend quality time with your family. (Don’t be selfish!)
3. Take some time to rest and get spiritual (Read a spiritual book, go camping and take some time to have great prayers and great times in the Word)
4. Serve others around you! Find a need. Consider volunteering for HOPE or go into the ministry for a week!!! That is what I would do! | |