Posted by: Anna Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend staff training for TeenPact. There's definitely multiple lessons I could draw from the experiences to post about, and hopefully I will get to more of them in the future. Today, I want to share the one that probably stuck out to me the most. Ever heard of the White Rose Society? It was a group of students that opposed the Nazi Regime despite the consequences. A certain brother and sister that were part of the society had this to say about why whey were willing to die for the cause: "We are Christian, and we are German, therefore we are responsible for Germany." Think about that a moment. These courageous young people believed that because they were Christian, and because they lived in Germany, they had a responsibility for their country. Why is that? I think I've discussed in a past post how our life circumstances are not random. How God has placed each and every one of us where we are, with the people we're with and the problems we have and the strengths and weaknesses we possess, for a specific reason. I firmly believe that there is a reason I have the family I do, the friends I do, the acquaintances I do. I firmly believe there is a reason I have the personality I do, the interests I do, the issues I do, and the strengths that I do. And I believe just as firmly that the same can be said about everyone. With that in mind, consider that quote again. Sophie, the woman that said that, must have held the conviction that God had put her and her brother in Germany for a reason, making them responsible for Germany. At this point you've probably figured where I'm going with this. That each of us, as Christians and Americans, should have the mindset of: I am Christian, and I am American, therefore I am responsible for America. Yes, I do think we should have that mindset. But I'd like to take it several steps further. I am Christian, and I am ____________, therefore I am responsible for ______________. Fill in the blanks. What is it? What are you, and what does that make you responsible for as a Christian? There's lots of possibilities. I'll use one of mine for an example. As I said earlier, I'm going to be staffing for TeenPact in just a couple weeks. Since I was always--to some extent or another--the shy, quiet girl in the class when I was a student, I approached staffing thinking "Hey, maybe I can reach out to the other shy, quiet girls in the class, the way other staffers reached out to me." And then I heard this quote. It fits perfectly. I am a Christian, and I am an introvert, therefore I am responsible for introverts. Maybe it sounds silly. Because no, I'm not saying that simply because I'm one of millions of introverts, I'm responsible for the well-being or salvation or education of all of them. No. What I'm saying is this: God made me with a very introverted personality. Therefore, I should use that as an asset in helping other introverts. I should use it as a launch pad to minister to others. I think we can all agree that it's easiest to befriend, serve, or understand someone that we have something in common with. It is far easier for me to understand a fellow introvert than an extrovert. That's why I should consider the possibility that God has plans for me in that area. Not to say that I can't help out an extrovert or vice versa. All I mean by this is that we should be aware of what experiences, skills, or even weaknesses God has given us that we can use to help others. Think about it. Let's say you've lost a loved one at some point in your life. One day a friend of yours loses a close family member. Wouldn't you agree that you will be better equipped to comfort and aid them then someone who has no idea what that's like? Or, let's say you live in such-and-such state where such-and-such crisis has recently occurred. Who is more suited to make a difference there: you, or someone thousands of miles away that doesn't even know it happened? To sum it all up, God puts us through certain things or gives us certain traits for a reason. I have recently discovered what it's like to be 'in charge' of a household for awhile while my mom was recovering from a surgery. Because of that experience, I could now sympathize with and encourage someone else who is going through the same thing; whereas before I probably wouldn't have understood why it was such a big deal. That's why I think "simple" things like where you live, what types of things you're good at, what you've been through. . . all of those things are ways God can work through you. So what did you put in the blanks? Where should you be looking for ways to serve others and glorify God? What are you, as a Christian, responsible for? "Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him." - 1 Corinthians 7:17
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