On April 1st, 1997, I entered into vocational ministry working as a youth pastor to Middle School and High School students in Columbus, Ohio. It was my dream job. In fact, I could not believe that a church would pay me money to spend time with Middle School and High School students and their friends in order to tell them about Jesus. I will NEVER forget those formative years of not only learning about ministry but even more important, learning about God’s heart for reaching people far from Him.
An older member of the church, one who had a unique heart for the students gave me a gift that still hangs in my home office. I can’t say that many gifts have survived the last 27+ years, but this one has because I NEVER wanted to forget the simplicity and power of its message.
Here is a picture of what was gifted to me in 1997…
Why am I showing you this picture today?
Well, two reasons.
One… whether you are 16 or 36 or 56 or 76… you need to know that you are LOVED by God. I’m guessing (or hoping) that this is not the first time someone has told you this, but for me, I think this is one of those things we hear (or read) and move on to quickly from… and we shouldn’t.
God.
The Creator and Sustainer of ALL things.
The One who is Omniscient, Omnipresent and Omnipotent.
The One who is Holy, Sovereign, Eternal and King.
The One who is Three in One - Father, Son and Spirit.
This God looks upon you and me and He declares that we are loved by Him with an eternal and perfect love.
Please just take a moment where you are right now and say it out loud… even if others are around… “I AM LOVED BY GOD.”
Seriously, if you didn’t participate with me in this, please just take a moment to say these words out loud… “I AM LOVED BY GOD.”
When King David thought about the love of God in His life, well, it overwhelmed him. Consider Psalm 8:3-4 (NLT)
“When I look at the night sky and see the work of your fingers— the moon and the stars you set in place— what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?”
So when you hear… or read that you are loved by God there should be something within each of us that stops and asks…
“Who am I that God would set His love on me?”
That question in no way doubts God’s love, rather it reveals a heart that is not only well aware of who we are but also who God is, and with that knowledge, they are left in AWE and WONDER of how Amazing God must be.
When I look back at my years of Student Ministry, well, that was my ministry… telling students about God’s amazing love for them. And to be honest, not much has changed. I am still committed to telling anyone and everyone (and I hope you are as well) that they are LOVED by God.
And the second reason I share this picture with you? Tomorrow, Saturday, September 21st, students from Middle Schools and High Schools around this region will gather at GENESIS to experience and encounter God’s EXTRAVAGANT LOVE for them.
The JOURNEY, which is the name of our Student Ministry at GENESIS will open wide its doors so that their friends and classmates can learn more about a community called the JOURNEY that is committed to showing and telling ALL students that they are EXTRAVAGANTLY LOVED by God!
As a church, let’s be praying that God would move in mighty ways through this EXTRAVAGANAZA, namely, that hundreds of students would hear and see and feel and experience God’s great love for them.
In fact, would you pray right now? Stop reading and just take a moment to start praying.
AMEN & AMEN!!
