Memory Verse (s) and more.

We are heading into our last 3 weeks of ministry on campus for this school year, and finishing our first year of full-time vocational ministry. There is so much to say of growth, struggle, learnings, joys, regrets, and praises. But, just for today, know that this verse has been and will be my prayer in these last few weeks, in the midst of weariness and the temptation to cruise to the finish line of May 13^th.

“Therefore my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord knowing that in the Lord, your labor is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58

It's very comforting to know that, if in Lord, our work is never in vain. 

We received a training at our staff meeting today from our Campus Crusade Bay Area director. He is working on his Ph.d. right now, is a professor at Fuller seminary, and does ministry at Stanford. Really smart guy. He shared so much good stuff, but one thing he shared, in passing really, was what he used to share with his students at Stanford. He would tell them, "Stanford is making you a lot of promises they can't keep. If you bank on those promises they'll end in death. Life comes from Jesus Christ alone."

 We talked a lot today about how Jesus' promise of LIFE, and LIFE abundantly (John 10:9), is at the very heart of the gospel. That the promise of Christ is goodness and true life in the way God intended it. In all of our relationships- with God, self, others, creation, and our work- and in our lives here partly, but eventually, completely. 

At the end of the gospel of John, he summarizes by saying, "...these are written so that you may understand the Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name." (John 20:31) Jesus came that we may have LIFE in his name. 

So...

"Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

It is healthy for me to remember the brevity of this life. As I remember the "here then gone again" nature of life- the vapor, dust to dust, passing wind nature of my humanity- it reminds me that my truest life is coming in God's kingdom, which necessitates a value shift in my days here. It makes my sojourning here and now more meaningful, more urgent, more rooted in the values of the kingdom that is here but not fully. It is good for me to remember that our time here is short so that I don't dig my roots too deep. 

Whether it is Stanford, Cal Poly, a magazine cover, my own desires for riches or praise, there are lots of promises of life, joy, peace, and fulfillment being thrown at me in the world; and yet, only one promise for life will truly hold up, and it is that we have life in His name. Thank you, Jesus.