Why Live for Christ? Because It’s Worth It!

Matthew 5: 1-16 What is our worth?  Worth definition - usefulness or importance, as to the world, to a person, or for a purpose. Value…. I mattered to God and You do too. Everyone has a purpose when it comes to living our lives and we are not meant to just bump through life from one thing to the other.  God has a great plan for each of us and we are totally capable of following that plan.  All your plans and all your dreams are important to God and right now He is listening intently to your heart to see what choice you will make when faced with this Word of Truth.  I know this.  Dusty knows this.  Your youth leaders and parents know this. The question is…Do You know this?

People who matter are most aware that everyone else does too.   Malcolm S. Forbes              How can you know you matter and have worth or value to God?  He gave His son for you to have eternal life with Him.  John 3:16 He empowers us with His Spirit to do even more than Jesus did when He walked on this earth.  John 14:11-14He doesn’t ever desert you in the middle of trials and temptations.  He can make great things come out of bad things and His plan is to always grow us in our faith.  James 1:2-4  We have worth!!!

An American tourist in Paris, who purchased an inexpensive amber necklace in a trinket shop, was shocked when he had to pay quite a high duty on it to clear customs in New York. This aroused his curiosity, so he had it appraised. After looking at the object under a magnifying glass, the jeweler said, "I'll give you $25,000 for it." Greatly surprised, the man decided to have another expert examine it. When he did, he was offered $10,000 more. "What do you see that's so valuable about this old necklace?" asked the astonished man. "Look through this glass," replied the jeweler. There before his eyes was an inscription: "From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine." The value of the necklace came from its identification with a famous person.

We each have great worth because of who we are connected to.  God is our worth giver and He has invested a great amount of love and sacrifice to make sure each of us succeeds in realizing that living for Him is Worth It!!  Since we know we have worth or value to God, we must realize that every time we don’t follow God or turn our back on His purposes in our life, we are not only affecting God’s plan, but our lives, and the lives of those we could impact…..So we must conclude that we are Hand in Hand with Jesus in this serving thing..Does this sound familiar?  Scripture says, “Take Up your Cross and Follow Me”  in Matthew 16: 24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Where is the disconnect?

1.     No challenge  2.     No backbone   3.     No time   4.     No priority  5.     No encouragement             6.     No reward   7.     No results

The worth or value is there, but will never be realized if we don’t commit to Renewal.  Come back to God.  Make Him the number one priority in every area of your life and beginning today…today….you will never be the same.  Paul wrote to the Galatians after they had drifted away from God’s purpose because of poor teaching.  Galatians 3:1 You crazy Galatians! Did someone put a hex on you? Have you taken leave of your senses? Something crazy has happened, for it's obvious that you no longer have the crucified Jesus in clear focus in your lives. His sacrifice on the cross was certainly set before you clearly enough.

Today is the day to allow God to become real to you and follow His way.  Why?  Because it is worth it.  ……If one of you is changed, then it is worth it.…… If you get to lead just one friend to Christ, it is worth it.…….If you get to the end of your school years and see that you have made an impact for Christ on your campus, it is worth it.…….If you are catalyst to your youth ministry becoming a growing ministry whose fellowship and unity is so beyond anything anyone has ever seen….It is worth it.

Charles Leber, a Presbyterian missionary, was in Westphalia, Germany at a clinic for handicapped children. A wealthy businessman came to tour the facilities and said to the doctor, "These are very pathetic children. What ratio of cures do you get? How many go back to normal life?" 
"About 1 in 100." 
"1 in 100! It's not worth it." 
"Yes it is. If that one was your child it would be worth it."

1 Timothy 4:6 (The Message) 6-10 You've been raised on the Message of the faith and have followed sound teaching. Now pass on this counsel to the followers of Jesus there, and you'll be a good servant of Jesus. Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we've thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. We're banking on the living God.

I'm banking on God to make my life worth it when He says,"Well done my good and faithful servant."  Why live for Christ?  Because it's worth it!!

The Pilgrimage Continues.......

David Warren