LOOK! It is finished!. Bam!

WOOOOOO! John's words here have been sticking with me since I first read the devo. "I have seen and testified that this is God's Chosen One." John had his work cut out for him: to make the people of Israel know that Jesus had come.  To announce, through a humble baptism, that God's eternal plan of salvation was being made available to any and all who come to the cross. I see a similarity to us as Sonshine staff: we have been placed on these boats, given all the tools for ministry to happen, and a calling on our hearts to lead campers to the source of eternal life. By serving these campers, we are testifying that we know God's Chosen One, and that our sin, guilt, shame, and hopelessness has been washed away. Our testimony is of God's redeeming power, and campers will see this and be drawn to Jesus. One of my favorite quotes is attributed to Saint Francis of Assisi: "preach the gospel, and use words if necessary." Our testimony this summer is that God's reconciliation is finished, and we don't have to let anything get in the way of experiencing, loving, and being loved by Christ in every moment. I loved the last paragraph in the devo where it says: "we do not have to be what we have become because of sin. The sin infection has been overcome." This reminded me of a great sermon I heard a few weeks ago, where the pastor said something along the lines of this: "So often we live our lives thinking "only if....." only if I had XYZ amount of money, XYZ computer, XYZ patience, forgiveness, etc. THEN I would be able to be the person I am called to be. What if we were to live in the "AS IF?" We have been forgiven, we are loved, we have every spiritual blessing, and we have God's grace, which is enough for us alone. When we start from our identity as Christ followers, our attitude and actions change completely."  I am guilty of thinking that I need something, or that I need to be "better with Jesus" before I minister to campers, friends, or even tithe to my church.  The sin of the world has been taken away!  "Get your eyes off yourself/distractions/less important stuff and focus on the Lamb." Such a crazy, wonderful, and yet difficult thing for us to do.

I know that might not have been the topic of the devo this week, but thats where my thoughts went haha.

btw, "Svenhard's" is a just about the best way I have heard of to describe a reaction to a post. It encapsulates so many emotions that go beyond "encouraging" and "challenging." I dig it.