My dear son,
I realize you will be serving Christ in a world far different than the one where I was trained and first released into ministry. Your methods, your dress, your vocabulary, the technologies you use and even the problems you face may have little in common with the world I knew, or even the world in which we both minister today. You will be a faithful servant of Christ not because you mimic my words or imitate my ministry style, but because you live out the timeless values we share – values that come to us from the Word of God and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
So while I still have the opportunity, I want to take a few minutes to summarize in writing the values and life lessons I have attempted to live out before you and most want to pass on to you…
Embrace Jesus
Things are not at all what they seem to be.
- All that the world has to offer is far less lovely than it seems to be. What is sells as so exquisite will destroy you. Embracing its call is to sell your soul.
- Jesus is far more precious than the world makes Him out to be. All that He offers is true. In Him you find everything! Jesus IS the treasure. Only he can satisfy. Sell everything to gain Him! Jesus is LIFE, here and for eternity.
Treasure Gods’ word.
The Bible is God’s word and absolute authority for life. It leads you to Jesus. Know it. Own it. Live it. It is more than something to be memorized, it is to be ingested and lived out. It will never lead you astray.
Know who and whose you are.
You are loved by God! You are His prized possession! You are seated with Christ in heavenly places! You have an inheritance kept in heaven for you! You are adopted into His family! And He wins! He has triumphed! He has broken the power of sin! He has conquered the grave! You are His! Live like it! Fix your eyes on Jesus! Never give up! Live for things that last forever!