submitted by Mike Cain (The Big MC)
Being A 24/7 Christ-Follower!
In one of the churches I had served as Youth Pastor, I had a conversation with a student who had attended our student ministry for the very first time. I asked him if he enjoyed the experience and found some students that he knew from his school. He answered, “Yes, I really enjoyed the worship and teaching and I did see a lot of students I knew. They treated me nice! But those same students don’t act like they even know me at school” Ouch!!! This student went on to say that these students act one way at church, but another way during the week at school. I recall conversations I have had about students from ministry groups I have led, who were causing trouble at the school they attend! And I remember asking a student one time about her inappropriate behavior at school, only to have her say to me, “But I don’t act that way at church!!”
What’s the problem in all these situations? We know the right ways to act, especially when at church, but we don’t behave that way during the week. We need to seriously look at becoming “24/7 Christ-Followers”. What is a 24/7 Christ-Follower? They are the ones who live consistently and everyday for Jesus. I have discovered that it is fairly easy to make the decision to follow Christ. I have seen hundreds of students make those types of decisions at camps, conferences and during youth group meetings. But I have also seen and experienced personally how tough it can be to live that decision in front of friends and family during the week.
We all seem to know how we are to act and talk when we get together at church. We can put on that mask, be friendly to people we may not always be nice to, and be sure what we say is appropriate. But when we step outside the doors of our church or youth group, we seem to easily go back to not being friendly, removing the control button on our mouths and even doing things we know are inappropriate. Being a Christ-Follower is not something we do on Sunday and at our youth meetings and events, and then forget about being the rest of the week. Being a Christ-Follower is a 24/7 adventure, where we live each and every day for Christ. Hopefully, we want people to come to church, and to experience the life-changing message that Christ has to offer. But will they will not want to attend if they see you, a person who is suppose to be a follower of Jesus, mistreat and verbally abuse them and others during the week? Will they feel comfortable at a place with you, who that very week began a rumor about someone, started a fight in the hall or excluded them from a conversation with your friends? I don’t think so! We need to realize how important our day to day lives impact other people, and how are life may persuade or discourage them to attend our youth group, church, and even become a Christ-Follower themselves.
As we approach Easter, and begin to more seriously reflect on what Jesus did for us all at the cross, we may think more seriously about being a “24/7 Christ Follower”! Allow me to challenge you to view the film “The Passion Of The Christ”. It is a movie that will stir your heart and challenge to live for Christ in ways perhaps you never had, and help you take a more serious look at being a “24/7 Christ-follower”! Perhaps when it sinks in, what a huge price He paid for everyone of us, we may reconsider our tendency of living for Him only a few hours during the week. A lot to think about this week!
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