"I am specifically talking to you about your relationship with God and your outlook on humanity... the time on earth is so short for humans and for us, it's even shorter.
I want to teach you two things in light of this: first, you need to recognize that God has given you many different gifts and talents and abilities. you are able to do much in the way you have been wired up as unique. the Bible in 1 Corinthians 3 says that "we will be judged according to our works one day. if our works were like wood or straw or hay, we are told we will suffer loss; if our works were like gold or silver or precious stones, we will be rewarded." I want to be rewarded and so do you.
you have been given much and it will be tempting as you go off to college to your independence to squander your opportunities. you will be tempted to hide who you are, what you believe, even the fact that you believe in God... we can rest when we get to heaven, now is the time to get to work and put into practice what we believe. I am desperately trying to finish well but if i can teach you anything, it would be to start right now. as you are at 17 years old, seek God and obey Him.
the second thing i wanna teach you is how you can practically put this into play. you must break your heart for the people around you. you must love them. you must be passionate about them.
John the apostle said in his first letter says: "beloved, let us love one another for love is from God and whoever loves, is born of God and knows God. anyone who does not love does not know God because God is love."
the very real tangible way to love God is to show that love to other people. you're going to live in a variety of different cities and states. you're going to travel to some fantastic places around the world and you're going to meet many, many people. keep this at the forefront of your mind: love them and show them the way to Jesus.
you will be faced with many struggles in this life. my encouragement is that you pick the harder path. you will be more like Christ and your character will develop. pick the harder path. you will meet and interact with so many different people. try to learn something from each and everyone of them. it is not an accident that you've met them and desperately try to leave each of them better off than when you first met them."
desperately pursue God and use the gifts He has given you and desperately pursue the people around you and love them."
2 comments:
hey i miss you mouse! come back soon. (: and this vid really touched me. must be the i've-travelled-india-fervour! (:
babe, i miss you sooo much too! will we get to talk soon? (: hahaha i'm glad it touched your heart; it spoke to me too! how's settling back down in singapore?
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