Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

The story of Hosea and Gomer is one of the strangest love stories in literature. Imagine God telling a prophet, a committed servant of his, to marry a woman who was (or who would become) a prostitute! God gave him a deep love for a woman who would break his heart over and over. She didn’t share his commitment to God. She wasn’t faithful. She wasn’t a good mother. It doesn’t even seem like he was the father of the children she bore. She didn’t love Hosea back. She was bitter, angry and self-seeking. She only thought about herself. Even when the life she was living led to slavery and Hosea sought her out and paid good money to buy her back she didn’t seem to love him. But later on, love and appreciation would grow. Still, imagine how this was for Hosea, a prophet who spoke for God and tried to turn the people back to God. His own wife was among the worst. How it must have hurt him and burdened his heart. So why did God make such a demand on Hosea?

Hosea was living out his message. Day after day he preached about God’s unconditional love for His people. Even though the Jews were unfaithful to Him and committed spiritual adultery with false gods and pagan idols, He still loved them. They took advantage of Him, used Him, hurt Him and deserted Him. So what did He do? In love He pursued them and paid the price to buy them back and restore them to the place that was rightfully theirs. He did this because He loved them. He loved them. It was one thing for Hosea to speak the words but another to actually live them out right in front of the very people he was speaking to.

God wants us to tell others about Him and His love. But more than that, He wants us to show it by how we love them. Loving those we like is easy, but to love those we don’t like, those who hurt and take advantage of — that’s the kind of unconditional love the world needs to see because it reflects God’s love. We can only do that through His strength, but He calls us to do more than preach a message — He calls us to live it first of all. That means starting in our home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, be a reflection of His unconditional, sacrificial love. Standing up and speaking God’s message is easy and rewarding, but living it? That can be tough. But that’s where it must start, in our daily lives. Does your life reflect the unconditional love of God which your words speak. It better, for words alone won’t do much good.

Scripture
1 John 4:7-12, “Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”

1 John 4:16, “God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”

1 John 4:19-21, “We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

Reflect

• Are there any areas in your life where your walk is not matching your words? Confess it and ask God to help you be faithful in that area.
• God has a higher standard and greater expectations for those who commit their lives to serve Him. Are you willing to be more than a mouthpiece for Him, but to be an example as well, no matter what it will cost?
• Who are you having trouble showing unconditional love to now? Why? Ask God to give you His love for them and for you to see them as He sees them?
• What can you do today to show unconditional love to someone you’ve been having a hard time loving?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Wouldn’t it be great to have a magic gene to grant your deepest wish? You could immediately have whatever you felt you needed. Sometimes it’s easy to think that’s how God should respond to our desires. We just assume He’ll show up on time and make things perfect once again.

The people in Jeremiah’s day faced these same things. God had warned they would go into captivity for their sin and turning from God. But like today, they didn’t believe it would really happen. They felt their country was safe. After all, God delivered them from the Egyptians and the Assyrians; surely He would deliver them from the Babylonians as well. As is often the case today, they had an entitlement mentality as far as God went, assuming that God would deliver them and they would all “live happily ever after.”

Only the Jews were taken into captivity. So God gave them His message through His prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah wrote a letter from Jerusalem to those in captivity in Babylon which is recorded in Jeremiah 29. In it he tells them not to get discouraged but to settle in and make the best of it for God would deliver them, but not for another 70 years. To us God says the same thing, He will deliver but not right away so settle into this life and make the best of things until He returns. We, too, are living in captivity in a foreign environment longing for our real home.

God’s promise through Jeremiah started in 29:10: “This is what the Lord says: ‘When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.’” This is the prophecy that prompted Daniel to ask God what would come after these 70 years. In response God gave Daniel the outline of history until He returns recorded in Daniel 9.

God affirmed that deliverance was coming eventually, but not quickly. He could have done it immediately but needed to teach them things first. They needed to see their need to repent and get back right with God. If He’d have delivered them right away that might never have happened. When you pray, make sure God’s delays aren’t to bring you to repentance. If there is anything between you and Him remove it immediately.

Another reason for delaying is because God was doing other things during this time. Daniel ministered in Babylon and wrote his book. Nebuchadnezzar and many others in Babylon became believers. Several Old Testament books were written (2 Kings, Lamentations, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Daniel and Psalm 137). If God is delaying an answer to your prayers it is because He has a good reason. There are things is He currently accomplishing by delaying. Remember, His delays are not denials. God answers eventually, just not quickly.

Scripture
Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

James 5:16, “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.”

Reflect

• Could God be delaying something in your life because there is a sin of which you need to repent? If so, pray and confess it now. If you aren’t sure, ask Him to show you anything that might be there.
• Think of a request you feel God has not been meeting. What has He been teaching you while you wait?
• What other things has He accomplished while you wait?
• Pray and ask for the fruit of patience so you can persevere until He knows the time is right to provide.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

The life of Jonah makes a great story for children, but the man himself isn’t much of an example for us to follow. He ran away from God, then reluctantly carried out the duty God had for him. He went through the motions and did what was required by warning the Ninevites that God’s judgment was on the way, but his heart wasn’t in his message. He didn’t love the Ninevites like God did. He didn’t even like them. They were the scourge of the ancient world and the enemies of his people, the Jews. Jonah left no doubt that he thought that the only good Ninevite was a dead Ninevite. Fortunately God was much more gracious.

After fulfilling his duty and delivering God’s message of coming judgment Jonah went on a hill to see what would happen. Thinking more about himself than about the thousands of people in the city, he still hoped God would destroy them. Then, when God showed mercy, he got very upset. Still, God used him to bring about the largest revival ever. God had to teach him a lesson about his self-centeredness, though, by giving him some shelter from the sun then taking it away. It’s encouraging to think that Jonah learned his lesson, for he if he hadn’t he probably wouldn’t have written the book of Jonah about himself. He knew his reluctant, hesitant and half-hearted obedience can be a lesson for all of us.

When Tim and our other children were young we told them, “delayed obedience is disobedience.” That’s true of God’s children, as well. Jonah delayed his obedience until forced to it. Then his “going through the motions” with a bad attitude was just as bad. Just going through the outer actions doesn’t impress God. In fact, He calls that hypocrisy. We won’t always like or want to do what God requires of us, but we must learn from Jonah and obey promptly and thoroughly. That’s how Jesus obeyed, that’s how we want our children to obey. And that’s how God wants His children to obey as well.

God always has a good reason for what He wants us to do. We may not understand or agree, but we are responsible to obey quickly and completely. And that means more than just going through the motions.

Scripture
Colossians 3:22-24, “Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything; and do it, not only when their eye is on you and to win their favor, but with sincerity of heart and reverence for the Lord. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”

Psalm 119:34, “Give me understanding, and I will keep your law and obey it with all my heart.”

Josh 22:5, “But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul.”

Reflect

• Are you just going through the motions in any of your responsibilities, ministries, or spiritual disciplines?
• Is there anything God wants you to do (or not do) and you are dragging you feet about it? Confess that at once and commit yourself to taking care of it today.
• Do you obey and serve God out of love for Him and those you minister to? If not ask God to put a love in your heart for those you help. If not it’s be empty obedience only.
• What can you do today to show prompt and complete obedience to God?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Elisha doesn’t get as much attention as many other Bible servants, but he is among the best. For many years he was a student of Elijah and served his master faithfully and loyally. When Elijah was dying and Elijah asked what his wish was, Elisha said he wanted to minister as faithfully as Elijah had and God granted that wish. Elisha went on to perform even more miracles than Elijah, although it was really God doing them through him. He is a fine example of someone who learned how to serve and then became a master who taught others.

While almost everyone wants to lead and things they can do well at it, very few desire to serve. Yet only those who really have learned how to serve can truly lead. Those in the bible who have become the best leaders have had to go through a time of learning to first follow. David, Paul, Joseph, even Jesus Himself, had to learn to serve before being placed in a place of leadership. That’s the basis of the military’s officer training program, as well. Those training to be officers must learn to take orders before they can learn to give orders.

It seems tempting to want to skip the servant step and go right to leadership. After all, we’d rather be giving orders than taking them. But that’s not the way it works with God. Remember, Jesus Himself said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:25-28).

Make sure you learn how to serve others, how to be a team player, how to follow directions and support the leaders over you. Learn the lessons God is now trying to teach you about being a servant. Work harder at being a servant than a leader. For when we learn to be good servants we automatically qualify to become godly leaders – and not before!

Scripture
Matthew 10:24-25, “A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.”

Luke 16:10, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.”

Matthew 25:21, “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’”

Reflect

• How well do you do with taking orders and serving others?
• Are you more interested in being a good servant to other people or in becoming a leader yourself?
• Who, to you, is a good example of a servant whom God has put in leadership position? What can you learn from this person?
• What specifically can you do today to be a better servant to those around you?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

While some are more prone to self pity than others, I guess everyone has had a time or two when they’ve indulged themselves in it. Depression isn’t fun, and it isn’t easy to defeat. While there are various contributing factors, central to victory over depression is a strong faith in God. When we get our eyes off Him we sink emotionally just like Peter sunk in the water when he focused on the waves instead of Jesus in the boat. Elijah was a great man of faith, but when he lost focus he, too, sank.

After experiencing God’s power in a way few ever have, he ran away depressed. Challenging the priests of Baal was a draining experience and Elijah was exhausted when God burnt up Elijah’s altar and sacrifice. The priests of Baal were killed and the people turned back to God. But Jezebel threatened Elijah’s life and he fell apart. He forgot how God had protected and taken care of him when the raven fed him and when he lived with the poor widow. Instead he withdrew from the people and places he knew and told God he was tired of living and wanted to die. He said he was the only one still faithful to God and he was tired of it all. He got into a deep depression, felt sorry for himself, didn’t think God cared about him any more and even wanted to die.

What did God do? Well, God didn’t lecture him, scold him, reject him or punish him. God let him talk, had him eat and sleep, then let him talk again. After eating and sleeping some more told him to get back to work. God reminded him that he wasn’t the only one who had stayed faithful to God, that others had as well. Elijah got his eyes off himself and back on God and went on to continue his fruitful service as a prophet.

We can, too, when we do the same thing. Proper diet, enough rest, good exercise – these are foundational to keep good emotional and spiritual health. But even more important is to keep our eyes on Jesus, trusting Him no matter what happens It is easy to get our eyes off of God and onto ourselves when things get hard and we face difficulties and opposition, especially if we are physically or emotionally drained. God still loves us. He is still there. We are not alone. We need to stop believing those lies. We need to get your eyes off ourselves and back on Him!

Scripture
1 Kings 19:3, “I have had enough, Lord,” Elijah said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Psalms 42:11, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable — if anything is excellent or praiseworthy — think about such things.”

1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Isaiah 26:3, “You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.”

Reflect

• Are you prone to self-pity and depression?
• What usually triggers it in your life?
• What can you do to help prevent depression from taking over?
• How can you help someone else who is going through depression?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Greed and foolishness aren’t limited to the young, but young people seem to fall into that trap quite regularly. With age and perspective comes wisdom, at least some of the time. However, without that important asset it is easy to let pride and self-centeredness rule. That’s what happened to the man who replaced Solomon as king, his son Rehoboam.

When Rehoboam took the throne the people demanded a remission in the severe financial burden that Solomon had imposed to carry on his building activities. Rehoboam said he’d give them an answer in three days. That was a smart move for there is always time to make a good decision. Forced reactions seldom turn out well. Take time to thoroughly think and pray about important decisions.

During this time Rehoboam talked to his father’s advisers who advised him to give in to the people and lesson the burden so the nation would continue strong and whole. But instead of taking this advice Rehoboam consulted the young men who grew up in the palace with him. They didn’t have the maturity, wisdom or perspective to make a good decision about this, but they were his friends. Perhaps peer pressure had something to do with it, but obviously Rehoboam liked their advise better for it boosted his ego and would increase his wealth. Their advice was to actually increase taxes and show the people who was boss. “Don’t let them tell you what to do, show them you are tougher than your father was. Show them who is the king!” Unfortunately, Rehoboam liked this advice for he took it. The consequence, though, was disastrous. The northern 10 tribes broke away and he was left with Judah and Benjamin. The 12 tribes would never again rejoin to form a united nation. The days of Israel’s glory were over and her decline was swift.

It’s so easy for us today to think we know what is best and not realize pride and/or greed are motivating us. We want to do what impresses our peers and feel we know better than those who are older. Then we later regret our choices. This is true of everyone, from youth pastors to university presidents. Be careful of searching out those who will give you advise you want to hear. Learn to listen to those who disagree with you and would point you in a different direction. If they are wise, godly mature people pay close attention to what they say and don’t dismiss it lightly. Peers are great to enjoy, but outside perspective can offer a lot of good sense. Learn from Rheoboam – take godly advice.

Scripture
Proverbs 12:5, “The plans of the righteous are just, but the advice of the wicked is deceitful.”

Proverbs 12:15, “The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.”

Proverbs 19:20, “Listen to advice and accept instruction, and in the end you will be wise.”

Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

Reflect

• When was the last time you made a decision you regretted? What made it so bad?
• Was there greed or self-centeredness involved?
• Are you aware of the limits of your age and perspective when you make a decision, or do you feel you know better than those you might consult?
• Who do you go to for advice and guidance? Are they will qualified to direct you?
• What do you do if you don’t like the suggestions they make?
• What major decision are you making now? Who are you going to for advice?

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

How does a branch bear fruit? By trying its best and working hard? By doing its very best? No, a branch cannot bear fruit by itself. If you see a branch lying by the side of the road and bring it home will you see fruit form, grow and ripen on it? Never. A branch only bears fruit when it is attached to the fine. Actually the vine produces the fruit, the branch just displays it. It manifests itself on the branch, but is produced within the vine itself. The roots and trunk supply the branch with what it needs to produce fruit.

That was common knowledge to anyone in Jesus’ day, so that is the analogy Jesus used when explaining to His disciples that they needed Him to produce fruit. It was late Thursday night, April 2, 33 AD, a few hours before the crucifixion. Jesus knew His time with His disciples was almost at an end so He wanted His last teaching opportunity to really count. So He uses this final opportunity to again make sure they knew the importance of staying in close contact with Him in order to produce spiritual fruit for the Kingdom.

The meaning is clear: Jesus’ branches (disciples) need to stay in close contact with Him in order for Him to produce fruit through them. We can’t do anything on our own, only through Him. Salvation is all by Him, so is the fruit we produce as we live for Him. A branch not in direct contact with the vine is useless. It can be a mile from the vine or a thousandth of a Millimeter. The distance doesn’t mater. Any removal at all, no matter how small, and the sap doesn’t flow so fruit isn’t produced. Without God’s Spirit freely flowing in us we won’t be able to produce the fruit of the Spirit.

How can we tell if we are in direct contact or not? That’s easy. When we spend time in prayer and Bible study, worship and service, and when we make sure all our sins are confessed and under the blood, then we are assured we are filled with His Spirit. We will then find we have an unconditional love for God, family, self and others. We will have a joy despite circumstances and be at peace with God and others no matter what is going on around us. We will be patient in trials and our thoughts and actions will be characterized by kindness, goodness and gentleness. Our faith in God will grow and so will our loyalty and devotion to Him. We will have Spirit-control in all areas of life. In effect, we will be growing in spiritual maturity. He does all the work – we just stay close and allow Him to work in us. That certainly isn’t hard, is it. It’s all available if we allow Him to do it.

Scripture
John 15:1-8, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me. “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.”

Reflect

• Does your life and ministry clearly show evidence of these fruit being produced in your life?
• What percent of your ministry is done in the power of the flesh and what percent under the control of the Holy Spirit?
• Of these 9 fruit of the Holy Spirit, which do you need most in your life? Why?
• Write them down and pray every morning that God would fill you with His Spirit and produce these fruit in you. When a need arises during the day pause and ask for His fruit to be manifest at that time.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

A young girl was learning the fruits of the Spirit, so her father asked her to recite them to him. “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and remote control,” was her reply. That’s not exactly right, but it is much closer to the truth than we may realize. You see, “self” control doesn’t mean that self is IN control. It means that self is UNDER control – under the control of the Holy Spirit.

We are born without self control. Babies can’t control their muscles to walk or to feed themselves, they can’t control their bowels and they certainly can’t control their emotions. Control needs to be learned – physically, emotionally and even spiritually. This fruit really should be called SPIRIT control, not self control.

So what does Spirit control really look like? It is the ability to rule your personal life so that you are not dominated by sin (Romans 6:12). It is the ability to control your self life from within by spiritual means (2 Corinthians 10:3-4).

For the Christian self-control is a spiritual grace. In the secular world we often associate self-control with willpower. Self-control or willpower would embrace such things as dieting, quitting smoking, exercise, gambling, alcohol, work habits, ethics, and living within your means. These are only just a few; each of you can add many others to this list. In our Christian walk nothing is ever accomplished by our own personal works, efforts, or merit. The entire Christian life is a walk of grace in total surrender and dependency upon the Holy Spirit. It comes by grace through the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, not by any personal effort on my part other than total surrender and obedience to Him. Christian self-control always honors Jesus, not myself.

Remember, self control (really Spirit control) starts within, not without. It is not just controlling our actions, for it starts with controlling our thoughts. What is in our heart comes out through our mouth. Spirit control doesn’t just help us keep our mouth shut, it shows us how to have a proper attitude in our heart.

Imagine if you started your car and noticed white smoke coming out the tailpipe. You wouldn’t get a new tailpipe because that isn’t the problem. The tailpipe only reveals the problem. Rather, you would do some engine work. In the same way, your habits only reveal what goes on in your heart.

If you have a habit of gossiping, the problem isn’t gossip; the problem is malice or envy. If you have a habit of blowing up, the problem isn’t your temper; the problem is rage, hatred, and bitterness in your heart. If you have a problem with pornography or infidelity to your spouse, the problem is lust in your heart. The base sin in all these is pride which is idolatry. Any time something is put before God it is idolatry, and idolatry begins in the heart.

Everyone needs the fruit of self control. Paul needed it as well (Romans 7:19-21). Victory came when He let the Spirit control him (Romans 8 follows Romans 7). And we need it daily, even hourly (2 Corinthians 4:16). It isn’t just for the “big” things in life but for everyday things like our actions and speech (James 1:26). Spirit control – don’t leave home without it.

Scripture
1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is self-controlled in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”

II Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”

Reflect

• How would your life and ministry be different if you were always under the total control of God’s Spirit?
• Think of a time in the past week when you would have responded differently to something in your life or ministry had the Holy Spirit been in total control of you?
• Think of some areas in life where you need God’s Spirit control. Pray specifically for each area and the control you need in it. Remember to pray throughout the day as these issues arise in life.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Do you remember the chant from childhood: “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me?” It isn’t true. Everyone has sometimes been hurt by words. We are hurt by lying words. We are hurt by unkind words. We are hurt by angry words. Words can hurt us. That’s why God wants His people to be gentle.

Gentleness is possibly the most misunderstood virtue. Many people think of gentleness as being weak, timid, or passive. This is not the biblical understanding of gentleness. The Greek language in which the N.T. was originally written, was a precise & expressive language. When the Greeks developed a word, they not only gave it a careful definition, but they almost always illustrated it. Their definition of gentleness was “power under control,” and they illustrated it with the picture of a horse that had been tamed. Gentleness to them was a powerful animal with its power completely under control. Have you ever watched a 2000-pound horse pull logs? That big, strong Belgium horse was strength under control.

For example, water that’s under control would be water rushing through a dam turning turbines, generating electricity to light a city. Water out of control would be a flood destroying everything in its path. A disease out of control can devastate the body and kill its victim. But a disease under control can produce vaccines & save thousands of lives. So when you think about gentleness, think about power under control, anger under control, our emotions under God’s control.

The Life Application Bible states concerning gentleness: “Gentleness—Humble, considerate of others, submissive to God and his Word. Even when anger is the appropriate response, as when Jesus cleared the temple, gentleness keeps the expression of anger headed in the right direction. Gentleness applies even force in the correct way.”

The fruit of kindness is showing love and compassion to others. Goodness is an inner spirit of love and holiness that show itself in doing that which benefits others. Gentleness, then, is tenderness but not weakness. It is power, but power under control. Examples would include Jesus’ dealings with the woman at the well (John 4), the woman caught in adultery (John 8 ) and Zacchaeus the moneychanger (Luke 19).

DeSales once wrote, “Nothing is so strong as gentleness,” and “Nothing is so gentle as real strength.” When you are producing the fruit of the Spirit you will find you are strong enough to be gentle. What a perfect picture of Jesus. What a wonderful goal for us!

Scripture
1 Timothy 6:4, “…he is conceited and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy interest in controversies and quarrels about words that result in envy, strife, malicious talk, evil suspicions.”

1 Peter 3:15, “But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…”

Reflect

• Think of some times when others showed you gentleness. How did it feel? How were you affected?
• Think of some times God has been gentle with you. Thank Him for it.
• Who do you know that needs gentleness but doesn’t deserve it? Will you commit to show them gentleness anyway?
• Who can you show gentleness towards today? Make plans as to who and how you can show gentleness.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!

Time Out (by Jerry Schmoyer)

Semper Fidelis is Latin for “always faithful.” It is the motto of the City of Exeter in Devonshire, England, and is a testimony to the city’s loyalty to the British Monarchy. Queen Elizabeth I wrote a letter to The Citizens of Exeter in 1588 suggesting they adapt this motto because of their faithfulness in supporting the British fleet that had defeated the Spanish Armada. It has also been the motto of the United States Marine Corps since 1883, and it is the title of the official March of the Marine Corps composed by John Phillips Sousa in 1888. Christian Disciples are called by the Holy Spirit to be “always faithful,” and Semper Fidelis would be an excellent motto for us to adapt as well.

Just what does this word for “faithfulness” mean? How can we define it? That is very easy for it is the same word as that used for “faith.” Faithfulness is staying true to someone or something, being trustworthy, being someone who can be counted on. A faithful person is one whom can be trusted and depended on. Trustworthiness is the characteristic of the man who is reliable.

God is faithful (Psalm 119:138; 1 Cor 10:13; 2 Thes 3:3). Jesus is often called “faithful” (Rev 1:5; 19:11). He is faithfulness personified. He is totally reliable, trustworthy and steadfast.

Faithfulness, life love, joy, peace and all the other fruit, is something that will be shown outwardly to others. It doesn’t stay inside, it expresses itself visibly in our lives and actions. First of all, we are to be faithful to God. He has been faithful to us so why wouldn’t we be faithful to Him? He should be able to depend on us.

Then, too, we are to be faithful to others. We are to be loyal and dependable to our families and friends, to our church and employers. The Golden Rule still applies – treat others the way you want to be treated. Do so and you will be showing faithfulness to them.

Scripture
1 Cor. 4:2, “Moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man (woman) be found faithful.”

2 Thes. 3:3, “The Lord is faithful, who will establish us and protect us from evil.”

Hebrews 13:5, “I Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”

2 Timothy 4:7, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith.”

Reflect

• How dependable are you? If you were God, would you trust yourself with important Kingdom work?
• Do you have a reputation for being a loyal and faithful friend? To whom can you show that faithfulness today?
• Are you as faithful to those who are a drain on you as you are to those who contribute to your ministry? If not, confess that and ask God to help you be faithful to all, not just those from whom you benefit.
• We grow in faithfulness by learning the Word of God (Roman 10:12) because the better we know God the more we will want to serve Him. Spend some time reading the Bible today, not to prepare a message or lesson, but just to listen to God speak to your spirit.

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Jerry Schmoyer has been a minister in Pennsylvania for over 25 years and has worked with teenagers for 14 years, ever since I became one myself. He authors the weekly Time Out series here at Life in Student Ministry in hopes to spiritually refresh your soul as you continually pour so much of yourself into students. God bless!