One of the reflections that I had coming out of conversations with a lot of our young adults both from the conference last January and with some of the young people that I walk with today, was the desire to do something for Jesus sake, but the struggle of actually feeling qualified to do that something. For about the past 5 months, I've had on my to do list something of a thought from those conversations about how we get to living life for the things that God is passionate for.
I am a sinner - You are my Savior
You are my Savior - I am your child
I am your child... so I will
"I am a sinner- You (Jesus) are my Savior" - Let's start with the real need. Ephesians 2 reminds us that we were "dead" in our transgressions against a holy God. We were conceived and born with the disease that separates us from God. There is nothing that we could do to restore the relationship that gives us life and shows us what real humanity looks like. And yet while we were still sinners - Christ died for the unrighteous. Through no earning of our own, the Gospel, the Good News is that the relationship with God is given to us as a gift of faith. Jesus rescues the sinner, paying for every debt we will ever incur, and not only forgiving, but also empowering us to live.
"You are my Savior - I am your child" - The gift of faith in Christ as our Savior comes with adoption papers that say "this is my son/daughter, whom I love for Jesus sake". To be "human" is to be loved by God and in relationship with him. We could never earn it, but we were created for it. God saw it through when Jesus went to the cross for us, for our sins, to be the ransom for us, to turn us from dead to God, to alive in Christ and to give us a status in the family of God. Our greatest foundational reality through Christ is that we are a son, a daughter, and we are to call him "Abba", which means "Daddy".
"I am your Child - So I Will!" - Out of this grace filled reality, God calls us to care about the things that he cares about and that is all about relationship with him through Jesus. That means that the hope, peace and joy that we all long for can only be filled in one place. In Christ alone. It's foolishness for those who do not have the faith to see it. Yet sharing this reality is what brings life to those who do not have it. Living this reality is what gives us courage to share it.
"fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. - Hebrews 12:2
The joy set before him was doing his Father's will, sacrificing his life for ours so that we would have relationship with him. That there would be a time in eternity when we would experience what it is to be fully human, in complete relationship with God through Jesus. YOU were the joy set before him. And now he says "LOOK - see the joy set before YOU - to share me with your world so that they might know where lasting hope, peace, and joy actually come from.
We're calling all Christian young adults, to gather together as a young adult generation for a time of Christian encouragement and inspiration with a look at God's word and how it deepens and shapes our personal lives. And then by God's grace, to help us to love our dormmates, suitemates, roommates, classmates, workmates, teammates, and family - and to help them see Jesus just a little more clearly.