The Start of Another School Year

This one goes out to all of the students out there.  Be you in elementary or Junior High, High School or college, I hope that this will encourage you today.  You have a purpose in life.  Right now.  Your purpose is right now.  I think that often we are bad as adults, and as churches, by making it seem as though life begins in your twenties.  It is true that you should probably wait at least that long to consider yourself an adult.  It is true that your maturity level is such that for the most part adulthood brings growth in a way that you may not be able to see yet.  But that does not mean that we should all just sit back and watch you become an adult.  You have a purpose.  God has put you in your family, in your school, in your job (if you have one) on purpose.  You have the responsibility of bearing His name wherever you go and so your purpose is simple - represent Christ well. 

This is something that is given to you at the moment of salvation.  When Christ redeems you - you are literally bought at the price of His blood.  And at that moment, no matter what your age, your life has a purpose renewed.  The purpose for which you were created - to glorify God - is once again enabled in you.  No longer do you live for self, you live for God.  You do not live to please others, you live to God.  And in this newness of life you have one restored purpose - to glorify God. 

It is interesting that God does not put very many limits on this purpose.  He does not tell us that we must achieve a level of obedience before we start glorifying God.  Nor does he call us to do this once we have attained maturity in Christ.  Nor does he say that we only have to do this if all the others around are doing the same.  We are called to live for Christ.  So if you are in Second Grade, or this is your final year of High School - if you belong to Christ - your purpose is to glorify God.  Glorify God in your speech, in your homework, in your test taking, in your interactions with teachers, in your interactions with your parents and siblings, in your work, in your play, in your thoughts.  In whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God.  (Col 3:17)