Orange Blog #7 Fueled Passion Thru Christ Part 2

December 19 2011, 1:21 pm | JT Scott

We win as parents and leaders if our teens one day walk away believing that...

1. I am created to pursue an authentic relationship with my Creator.

2. I belong to Jesus Christ and define who I am by what He says.

3. I exist every day to demonstrate God's love to a broken world.

These beliefs echo again what Jesus said 2000 years ago about how we are supposed to love God and our world.  He confronted the irrelevant, legalistic, judgmental religious attitudes of His culture.  

   The Pharisee promoted a religious system based on law- they were closing the front door trying to keep people out.  

  Jesus invaded culture with a new commandment based on love - He was opening the back door and letting everyone in.

There was genious in what was contained in His message to "Love the Lord your God ...and love your neighbor as yourself."

This one passage holds the key to the identity, autonomy, and belonging that characterize the passage to healthy adulthood.

That's why it's so important to appeal to the passion instinct in the hearts of teens while they are still with us.  It can solidify their role on this planet.  

The earth is moving at a rapid speed in three different directions.  Those of us who live in this world have an opportunity to connect and make a difference in this world at three different levels.

It comes back to how Jesus modeled love.  It's why John's gospel says "Greater love has no man than this, than to lay his life down for his friends." When Jesus stepped on the planet He became the ultimate sacrifice for everyone.

1. For the friends who were in His closest circle.

2. For those people of His own race.

3. For everyone else who lived and would ever live in this world.

As Christians, we move in 3 concentric circles; a personal circle, a local circle, and a global circle.

These circles...

 ...define our role on this planet

 ...determine our sphere of influence

 ...provide us a clearer sense of belonging

They represent the world that we are called to view from a higher perspective. Jesus used these circles to illustrate where He wanted His disciples to go and show the world how much He loved them.  He said "... be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

Our passion is fueled by the following insights that continue to drive us to a higher view of this planet and our calling to love the people on it.

   Restoration- God designed me to participate with Him in restoring a broken world. (a global circle)

   Compassion - My faith in Christ is revealed by my compassion and care for others. (a local circle)

   Community - I choose to live in the complexities of family and communities because God values them. (a personal circle)

Because of what Jesus did on the cross, every generation is called...

   ... to see the world the way HE sees the world.

   ...to engage in a bigger story of redemption and restoration

   ...to embrace a calling to be God's hands and feet everywhere we go.

It's your move.

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