devotional

i took this from the pre-camp devotionals that the Group Workcamps provided us. i changed up some parts because they were a little too specific to their program, but i believe the message is clear and applicable to many aspects of our trip.

do share your thoughts, reflections, prayer requests!

===

Jesus loved out loud with time

The word and idea of "time" is part of our everyday language. Take two minutes and write down as many as you can that have to do with "time."

Hopefully you came up with a great list. No matter how we talk about time, there's one universal way that people look at time. It's mine! No one minds wasting time. But all of us bristle when someone wastes our time. That's because we only have so much of it. Every day, you make a choice - or a series of many choices - about how you will use your time. You can use it for yourself in any number of ways - have some downtime, hangout with friends, go to school or work, travel, and the list goes on and on. Or, you can give some of your time away, by loving and serving others, helping someone in need, and spending time in a relationship with God.

Jesus had choices as well. His home - the place where Jesus spent His eternal time - was in Heaven. Can you even image that? What was that like, and how amazing is it that Jesus gave that up - for us. Jesus Christ loved us with the gift of His time. About 33 years of time, by our clocks. During that time, Jesus didn't sit on the sidelines watching people go by. He hung out with them, helped them, healed them, taught them, fed them, and prayed for them. Jesus loved people and showed it by giving time away - for us.

You will be giving away your time this summer. In fact, you are giving away your time right now through these devotions as you prepare for your trip! Realizing that you are giving away your time can help you make the most of your upcoming mission experience. Since it's a gift to others - to the people you'll be serving and through that, to God - make it the best, most Christ-like gift of your time you've ever given away.

Read John 1:1-4; 14

What would life have been like for Jesus before He came to earth?
Would you ever give up that kind of life like Jesus did? If so, under what circumstances?
Based on what you know about the life of Jesus, how do you think He felt about the time He spent on earth?

Read Philippians 2:5-7

What is God saying about Himself in this passage?
What is God saying to you?