Don't Forget to Plug-In!
At the beginning of this year, Will & I had the opportunity to step in as the interim youth directors. During this time, we partnered with the other volunteer leaders to teach the message to the students each week. Our favorite series was titled CLOSE, and we wanted to share one message brought to the youth by Tim Bernsau, that really stood out to us and the youth.
One day Tim walked into our leader meeting with a shirt so wrinkled it looked like he just woke up. I did not think much of it, but it was quite out of the ordinary. Come to find out, as Tim began sharing that weeks’ message it soon became clear that the wrinkles had a purpose. Tim said:
“This morning, I grabbed my shirt and found that it was very wrinkled. I pulled out the ironing board and spent the next 10 minutes ironing my shirt. But, as you can see, it didn’t work too well, did it?. Why do you think that is?”
After a series of very creative scenarios proposed by the students, Tim shared what actually happened: he didn’t plug in the iron. (Big surprise huh?) That analogy, as simple as it may be, had a truth that rang clear and permeated into all of our hearts. We have to be connected to THE source.
Similar to Jesus’s illustration of being part of the vine in John 15:5, Tim continued to share that if we stay plugged in, connected to the power source, we will “bear much fruit”. If we do not remain connected, if there is distance in our relationship with God caused by sin, then we are like irons without a power source, fruitless no matter how much energy we spend.
Tim left us with 4 methods that help us plug in:
Prayer (Philipians 4: 6-7)
Reading the Bible (2nd Timothy 3: 16-17)
Community (Hebrews 10: 24-25, Acts 2:46-47)
The Holy Spirit (John 4:23-24, 14:26)
Each of these methods help us deepen our connection with the Lord. Above all else, Jesus wants a deep, strong, consistent relationship with each of us. He loves you. The Lord has given you the ability to connect with Him, to be close to Him, and all we have to do is stay plugged in.
During the coming weeks, as we continue our season of togetherness, we pray that the Lord, in unimaginable ways, will bless you through prayer, reading scripture, community & the Holy Spirit. Don’t forget to plug in!