Thursday, August 30, 2012

None but Jesus

So I understand that it's been while...

Summer camp has now come to an end. I'm sure you realize that the reason I haven't posted a blog entry in so long is that camp has been super duper busy! Even though I really want to fill you all in on everything I've learned and everything I've experienced in the last 2 1/2 months, I honestly just can't. There's been so much that I can't physically relay it all to you in a blog post. But I will tell you about the one major lesson God taught me this summer.

So, if I'm being honest, I had a really hard time focusing on Christ this summer. There was one thing that I was constantly putting before Christ. I knew it was wrong, I knew I was sinning, but I just couldn't seem to let go of this one thing. Then finally, during Senoir High 2, God threw a bucket of cold water on my face (so to speak, of course). This was the week that my body decided that it wanted to burn out and part of my heart decided that I no longer wanted to care.

On the Tuesday afternoon of that week, I decided to spend my free time napping. But that napping changed into tossing and turning for a half hour. I knew that the Holy Spirit was convicting me of this idol I had put up in my life. I admit, I tried to justify my feelings about this idol... but I mean, it's God. He's ultimately always right. Justifying my actions just tired me out more actually. It was kinda dumb, and I was being a baby about it.

I ended up running into one of the other workers, who asked me what was up. So I told him that the Holy Spirit was convicting me on something and that I was being a baby about it. When I told him that I didn't know what to do, his response was "well, just stop being a baby about it". I was scheduled to do worship during After 8 that night, so I went up to practice with the band. The music director suggested that I sing a song called "None but Jesus", which ended up cutting the last little piece of thread that was holding me together.

The lines in the chorus go:
There is no one else for me
None but Jesus, crucified to set me free
Now I live to bring Him praise

God taught me that week that there really isn't supposed to be anyone or anything above Christ. God also taught me that He can't just be first on some list of priorities, He needs to saturate every single little thing on that list. I learned at Capernwray that Christ is my life. I guess this summer I forgot that... but I've been reminded again and I will continue to be reminded of that every day because God won't let me forget.

Here's a few verses that God used to teach me this summer:

"For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified."
- 1 Corinthians 2:2

"To them [his saints] God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ."
- Colossians 1:27-28

"Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these things the wrath of God is coming."
- Colossians 3:5-6

I challenge you: is Christ #1 on your priority list or does He permeate everything on that list?