Passage of the Day:
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. 3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body[a] in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.[b] The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8.
Reflection:
My high school swim coach poured 6 years of his life discipling me. When I look back at what Ken did for me, he was preparing me to become a teenage evangelist. Even when my parents moved to Cleveland, Ken’s house was only a 30-minute drive from the University of Delaware campus. Although I didn’t nearly spend as much time with Ken as in high school, I was invited to serve on numerous Lay Witness Mission teams. On one of these revival weekends at a church in Friendship, Maryland, the Lord revealed God’s will for my life.
Prayerful Action:
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will, Romans 12:1-2.
Retracing Your Steps:
The structure of Lay Witness Mission is broken down into 3 days: Friday night, Saturday and Sunday morning. At the end of each session, one of the team members is asked to share their testimony, providing examples of how God is working in their lives. On the weekend in Friendship, Maryland, I was asked to give the sermon on Sunday morning. This message was entitled Stop Playing Games with God. As the Holy Spirit spoke through me, students literally ran to the altar. It was at this moment when I knew the Lord wanted me to become a youth pastor.
Song of the Day:
This is the song I played after my first sermon which moved people to come running to the altar. However, I do add this disclaimer, sometimes God’s calling changes or you decide to move in a different direction. Since moving to South Carolina, I continue to pray for God’s will for my new life. Currently, I’m still in the waiting stage, nearly two years and counting. Don’t become frustrated as when the Holy Spirit moves, you’ll know God’s next calling for your life. Keep the faith!
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 