What will matter?

Do you ever get discouraged when it seems like your friends are just better than you? They're just more out going, or athletic, pretty, smart, cool, anything. It can be hard, I know. Sometimes you want a friend or want to be closer friends with someone and it just doesn't seem to work, when for your friend it isn't a big deal. Sometimes when you want a friend, however, you have to remember that saying- "To have a friend you have to be a friend." Only when you put others first will you find true friendship.
Did you know that Christ isn't really concerned about your happiness? He is, of course, but His first concern is changing you to be like Him. Also, He isn't very concerned with your friends. He is more concerned with how you help them- specifically by pointing them to the Lord.
When everything here is all said and done, what will matter? Your soccer championship trophy? The super amazing pictures you took? Your 342 friends on facebook? Hardly. When you stand before Christ He isn't going to care. He is going to want to know if you led any of your soccer team to Christ. Or if you stood up when they used His name in vain. Or why you and your friends weren't at church that Sunday you took those pictures.

2 Peter 3:8-14 (New International Version)

⁸But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

¹⁰But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.^a]">[a]

¹¹Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives ¹²as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.^b]">[b]That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. ¹³But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness.

¹⁴So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.

So you see, Christ has not returned yet because He wants EVERYONE to trust Him. Have you considered that you are part of His plan? Yes, you! No, don't say, "I'm home-schooled, all of my friends are Christians." Reach out in your community! Be brave!

Notice verse 11 above. Peter says that since everything will be destroyed, live holy and godly lives. Would you consider your life a holy and godly one? One test that I use is to ask myself if I would be doing what I am if Christ were sitting next to me. Of course, this works for obvious things, like watching a movie with bad language in it; but for things that are sometimes harder to decipher. Would you like Him to watch you sit at the computer all day while your school work is left untouched and chores undone? Or if you aren't home-schooled, what do you think He would think of you coming home from school then going straight to the computer, phone, or television, without spending time with Him? Sure, you might give Him sometime early in the morning or late at night, but why not while you are doing something not so very beneficial? Little things like this make the difference in your relationship with Christ and with others, because when your relationship with Him flourishes you will understand how to more thoroughly and deeply love others.

In Christ,

Becky :)