I was thinking the other day about similar math and Christianity are. You think I’m nuts huh? Check out my thoughts and let me know what you think…
Order Of Operations
I don’t always like to follow directions, but I have learned that in math you have to follow a certain order of operations to get the problem solved correctly. I tried to solve problems in my own way, a way that made sense to me, but seemed to come up with the wrong answer every time. I have learned that there is an order to follow when living for God as well. Here it is, GOD IS FIRST! That’s it. I think that’s much easier to remember than “Please Excuse My Dear Aunt Sally” or whatever else you may have learned too keep things straight. God should be first at ALL times. If you try to solve life’s problems without respecting that, you will get it wrong every time.
God > Me
Ok, I know that all of you reading this article have had to deal with inequalities before. An inequality is simply that, NOT EQUAL. We are not equal to God, despite what the world may tell you. The Bible teaches us about God’s greatness. You ought to take some time and read a few verses from Psalms. Most of them exalt God and speak of His greatness and superiority. The book of John has a great verse that explains how we should compare to God. It says that Jesus must increase and that we must decrease. Here’s the bottom line…God is above all, even us. When we realize that and let God rule our hearts, we can then live a life that gives Him glory.
Multiplication is the easy part
I was so good in math while in elementary school. I loved it! I would be one of the first to know the answers to the problems the teacher would call out. My favorite was the multiplication table. I loved to multiply. It just made sense to me. Life was good, until long division came along! I hated that stuff with a passion. Too many numbers and too much carrying down. And let’s not even get me started on remainders. I think that’s when I became an English buff. Christianity is like this too. We are so good at knowing the basics, what to do; what to say. But as we grow more mature in our walk with Christ, we have more to learn. God wants more of us than to just multiply, He wants us to grow and to grow disciples. It’s more than just knowing the answer; it’s living “The Solution.” I hope that makes sense.

Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."

Getting up at 6am (well, make that 6:15 because you hit the snooze 3 times,) taking a quick shower, finding the perfect clothing for the day, searching all over for the homework that you barely finished last night, rushing out the door and making it to school just before the tardy bell….sound like an average day for you?
Business seems to be a way of life for us these days. It has just become natural for us. Sometimes when I don’t have anything to do, I try to find something to make me busy. Can you believe it? I actually look for business! Crazy, I know. When was the last time that you did nothing, absolutely nothing?
I think one of the devil’s biggest weapons against us is our business. We can work all day long on things that are good and Godly, but unless we spend some time being still, talking and listening to God, we will just be doing meaningless work. The Bible warns us about this, it says that when we get so focused on doing things we need to remember that it’s not our works that save us but our faith.
Here’s one way of thinking about it. If you want to have a relationship with a certain guy or girl, you need to spend some time with them, right? You can make them things, give lots of compliments, buy gifts for that special person, but none of these things will help you really KNOW them. To really know someone and have a healthy relationship, you are going to have to make plans to spend time with them. You have to WANT to be with them. Do you know what I’m saying? We can get so busy trying to please and serve people, and God, that we forget to just spend time with them.
God desires that time with you. I hope that in the middle of all the things you have going on in your always-busy world; you make plans to spend time with God this week. So, if you find yourself totally busy and missing out on that time with God, you might want to pencil Him in. After spending time with Him, you will notice just how much you need it!

2 John 8-9

"Watch out that you do not lose what you have worked for, but that you may be rewarded fully. Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son."

What a great week we had at Youth Camp, and yet it is just the beginning. Many of you have worked hard at your spiritual walk this past week, dealing with some difficult issues and resolving some challenging problems. You have confessed sin to God, and to those you have sinned against. It has been a spiritual struggle, but you persevered through.

So now, don't "lose what you have worked for." Don't go back to where you were, but go on with God. John give great counsel when he exhorts us to continue in the teaching of Christ. Don't run ahead and leave God behind, thinking that now you've got everything figured out. Continue in the scriptures everyday. Spend time with Him. Share with someone else what God has been doing in your life. Find someone to help hold you accountable as you study the Word.

Read 2 John, it's only 13 verses, then tomorrow read 3 John.
What can you do to "continue in the teaching?"

How can you help others "continue in the teaching?"