"Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."
This is the verse I want to continually be my prayer throughout this coming summer.
I will be working at Springhill Camp in Seymour, Indiana. I began attending Springhill in 4th grade. I went almost every summer after that, up until my freshman year of high school, when I "moved up" to work on TST (Teen Service Team). TST is a totally different experience than the regular camper experience. Instead of staying for one week, you stay for two weeks, but as half camper/half staff. It was probably the most tiring two weeks of my life - waking up at 5 am every morning, preparing the dining hall for all the little campers to eat, just to clean it up again. It may seem as if I am complaining, but this was my attitude four years ago. I was so caught up in my own self-regard, that I wasn't able to enjoy the service opportunity God had given me. Now, don't get me wrong - I have so many memories from those two weeks that I will never forget, but my heart wasn't fully open to all God wanted me to learn.
However, I am determined to embrace all God has to teach me this summer, with an open heart. I realize being a camp counselor for an entire summer is a huge commitment, but I can say, out of all the years looking forward to summer camp, I am - at the age of 19, by far the most excited I have ever been for camp.
The first sentence of the verses in Philippians I shared before is actually only half of verse 12. Paul is writing to the people in Philippi, encouraging them to be a light for Christ in this dark world. He says:
"Work hard to show the results of your salvation."
In reference to this coming summer, working hard - giving 100% for God is going to have multiple meanings. I know there will be times this summer when I am just plain worn out. I know there will be times this summer when I am homesick. I know there will be times this summer when I just want to sleep in - just one day. I know there will be times this summer when I will want to complain about the heat and all of those "Indiana mountains" I will be climbing on a daily basis. But, working hard to be a light for the hundreds of kids I will encounter, far surpasses any 6 am wake up call. Also (side note), verse 14 says:
"Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you."
This just goes to show how every word is divinely in the exact place it is meant to be.
Okay, back to what I was talking about - the last part of verse 12 says:
"obeying God with deep reverence and fear."
Glancing over this, we often times don't take the time to fully understand the meaning of each word, knowing every word is there for us, for a reason. The definition of the word "reverence" is: "a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe." This means when I'm sweating, screaming camp songs that I've been screaming all summer long, surrounded by eight 12 year old girls, I can obey God - not because it's my job, but because I am in awe of my Savior, because my attitude should reflect the character of Jesus Christ. Paul also says to obey God with fear. Psalm 111:10 says:
"Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom."
This fear we are commanded to obey God with will make us grow in wisdom. Another goal for this summer I have is to know God better. That is a pretty broad statement, but God knows the desires of my heart, and I don't have any doubt that He doesn't want me to know Him better.
All of this is way easier said than done. I can blog about this, and attempt to have this sort of attitude all summer long, but realistically, I cannot do it on my own - but guess what? That is okay, because after Paul gives this command, he goes on in verse 13 to say:
"For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him."
God is capable of planting a desire in our heart to serve Him, no matter what the circumstance is. All we have to do is ask!
Lastly, I am sure you are wondering (if you've never been a Springhill camper) what the title of this post means. Well, I will explain - anytime a group of people pray at Springhill, they all hold hands "boyfriend-girlfriend style." Our fingers represent our strengths, and the spaces between represent our weaknesses. When we hold hands like this, it symbolizes our strengths covering up the next persons weaknesses. It seems corny, but if you think about it, it really is a very practical lesson.
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