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Young Adult Workers Devotionals - October 2008

Faith and Academics: The Necessary Alliance
By Akiiki Kabagarama

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.   Hebrews 11:1

Have you ever wondered if there is a positive relationship between faith and academics? Speaking from my own experience, the response is, “Absolutely!”

Faith and academics go hand in hand. It is an alliance that is necessary for survival. We are whole beings---intellectual, physical, emotional, spiritual and communal. We survive and thrive when we remain intact. An attempt to separate the different spheres of our existence fragments us to the core. As a result of this fragmentation, major social problems invade us. We live in isolation from ourselves, our neighbors and the Creator of the universe.

Faith allows us to see beyond the naked eye. It allows us to testify to another reality that is around us and within us. This reality does not take away from our scientific inquiry and intellectual exercise. It is not the pursuit of empty beliefs or superstition. Faith enables us to pursue truth to its finest level.

Together, as we walk our intellectual journey during the academic year, let us not throw away our faith or leave it with Grandma to keep for us till we return. Rather, let us experience the exuberance and excitement that comes to us as individuals and as communities when we allow faith and academics to meet and embrace each other!

Prayer

God of our faith, we glorify your name for endowing us with the capacity to think. May we never forget that learning occurs best when You are at the center of our lives. Please strengthen our faith, we pray. Amen.

By Dr. Akiiki Kabagarama, campus minister at Wichita State University in Kansas

God Will Wipe Away Every Tear!
By Cletus David

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."

He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."   He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life... (Revelation 21:1-6)

Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions... (John 14: 1-2)

It was Sunday morning July 04, 2004.  After three (3) years of marriage, it was over! My beloved wife passed away to glory!! She collapsed in the bathroom and by the time the medical personnel came it was too late. 

For me, this was too early.  I was greatly troubled and bitter.  “Where is God?” I asked.

My wife and I were very close and her departure created a big vacuum in my life.  Looking at our little daughter brought every memory of my wife alive in my mind and heart.  I realized, though, there was nothing I could do to reverse the situation.  My dear wife was gone.  In my pain I sought God's comfort.  One day as I read Revelation 21: 4 during one of my Bible study times, I felt these words directly speaking to me.  I heard God saying to me, "I will wipe away every tear from your eyes in all situations, including the lost of your spouse"!  I found peace and I was comforted.

Still today, I appreciate God’s restoration of my broken heart and the walls of my life.   I am grateful that God has re-assured me that He will not leave me or forsake me in my grief. Since this experience with God, I have been positive – knowing that there are many mansions prepared for all of us through the death Christ.

I know that God knows every thing and that God loves my daughter and me.  And, I know that God loved my wife.  And, I also know that God knows how much I miss her – still every day. I also know that my daughter is growing in His grace and I believe that God will continue to keep us and provide for us at all times.  God will not abandon me in my time of need.

Prayer

God our Father, in our tears help us to remember that you will wipe away every tear from our eyes when we trust you with all our hearts.

Focus

Young people who suffer the loss of their spouses and other loved ones.

By Cletus David, Africa University student

Thrift Store Meditation
By Hank Hilliard
Rockin’ GBOD staff member in the Division on Ministries with Young People

Scripture: (can use just one, or several) Matthew 6:25-27; John 10:10; John 3:16

Theme: Each of us has immense value because God created us and sacrificed so much for us.

Preparation: Place several items from the thrift store (or other used items you do not want back) in the worship space (on the communion table or prayer rails).

Tell the participants to come and browse through the items. Pick something that catches your attention. Something that you like or think is cool. Something that you consider to be the best or most valuable item on the table.

After each person has selected an item, have a few of them share in the large group, or share in groups of three depending on your time frame:

• Why did you pick the item you did? Why does it have value to you over the other items?

After 5-10 minutes of conversation the leader of the worship time says a bit about value: could share a brief personal story that involves "value." For example:

• Something you own that has tremendous value to you.

• A time you lost something valuable and what it felt like to you and what you did about it.

Everything has value, some things more than others. Value changes over time. For example, certain singers and actors become popular and then fade away. Name a singer or actor or two from their generation that was popular a few years ago that is not really talked about much now. Or name a video game or toy that was a passion fad for their generation.

In the marketplace three things seem to determine value:

1. Who made it?

2. How much is someone willing to pay for it?

3. Is it difficult to find – is it scarce?

Who made it? In some cultures, two similar shirts will cost vastly different amounts if one is the Polo brand and the other has no logo on it at all. In the U.S., for example, Starbucks Coffee costs way more than coffee you can make at home.

How much is someone willing to pay? This is the question that is around the edges of our societies and cultures. A car may be valued at $10,000, but if no one will pay that, then the car is not really worth the value it has been given.

Let’s look at our lives. Who and what is considered to have value? What kinds of people are valued in our society? What kinds of degrees are most valued and why? (allow the group to respond if time allows) Possible responses: Athletes, school diplomas and degrees, popularity, positions and power – like chiefs and presidents, wealth? Medical degrees are sometimes more valued than others because doctors can make a lot of money.

The real measure of value can be found by responding to these questions, rather than the one’s society has created?

1. Who made you?

2. How much is someone willing to pay for you?

3. How much was God willing to pay?

Scriptures about God paying the price for us. His life as a ransom. Perhaps Genesis' description of us as "very good".

Take their item with you, as a reminder of your value to God. And, remember, no matter how valuable this item is to you, God’s sees your value as much, much more!