The Jesus Texts

The first paragraph is part of Creative Chaos.

We started a series about Jesus last week in student ministry called, “Jesus.” (see graphic below) As part of the goal to cause students to realize their first love, we set up The Jesus Texts. Through the tool provided us by MobiMark, students are invited to subscribe to get random quotes, facts, and teachings about Jesus sent to their phone throughout the week by our staff. Its a very useful tool. The idea is to keep Jesus in the conscious of our students and staff all week, not just on Sundays. We are finding that there are many creative options for ministry that can be had through text. If you want to subscribe, text the word “jesus” to 23907.

In my search to send out the first blast this week, I came across my daily devo at Upper Room. It made me pause. It seems like lately I have been keeping myself busy, a workaholic. I don’t understand where this comes from in ministry. Its not like I make more money the more I work or I get closer to God the more time I put in doing “his business.” It seems this has been something my colleagues have been going through too. I read this:

Understanding what’s important from God’s perspective is a challenge. If we could see earth from eternity, what we strive for during our years on earth would look different. We can use our energy fretting, clutching, struggling, and hoarding; but if we do, we will miss what is more important.

It seems like I keep coming back to this perspective thing. It is as if we as Christians living in this world are supposed to be living life through God goggles. Seeing things from his view. Making priorities based on what He find valuable. I have been reading a lot in the Gospels lately in the life of Christ and He also seems to say this a lot. Every time He talked, He was saying something totally contradictory to the societal norms at the time. As I heard on Sunday, Jesus conversation with Nicodemus was largely Him trying to communicate to Nick what “born again” meant… Nicodemus couldn’t grasp the concept of a spiritual rebirth because he wasn’t thinking in the same way Jesus was.

When I try look at politics, money, my life, my family, and my time from a Kingdom perspective, it is all backwards from what my government, bank, and culture tell me it should be. Take some time today and figure what the things are that you value too much for no good reason, chances are that thing is taking away from something you should be valuing more.