Our Journey, His Work: Saturday Night Bonding!

One of my favorite parts of the weekend is our Saturday night bonding with our teenage bible study group! This past Saturday night we decided to do things a little differently and meet for a campfire instead of just at the house. It was definitely cold outside but it was the perfect evening! We roasted marshmellows, made smores & coffee on the fire and even some hot chocolate too.

The best part was digging into God's Word! We are studying the book of Colossians and I am forever amazed at the apostle Paul and his heart for Jesus and the gospel. To think he is writing this book from prison is incredible, not to mention his genuine love for the Colossians is evident. He thanks God for them at the beginning of his letter and then reports how he regularly prays for them - that they will know God's will and that God will give them the power to live it out. I can sincerely relate to Paul in that I pray for these teenagers we disciple daily and specifically that our bible study and 'get-to-gethers' are more than just a fun time but that they get it, that they see WHY they should live for Jesus, and that they will sincerely do their best to live this life on earth for Him. The world will fail us but Jesus is the only one that never will.

²⁴Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, ²⁵ of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, ²⁶ the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. ²⁷ To them 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. ²⁸Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. ²⁹For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me - Colossians 1:24-29

Paul's heart was not just to see people make a profession of faith in Christ but to disciple them into all wisdom and to help them grow. Discipleship is the missing piece today. Verse 29 indicates that Paul struggled to the point of AGONY with all his energy (the HOLY SPIRIT) to help them grow and mature in Christ - to have complete understanding and know the mystery of God, namely, CHRIST.

Lord, help me to be a Paul every.single.day.of.my.life.on.earth.

Here are a few pictures from our evening :)