The Good Life: A Five-Day Youth Guide to Spiritual HabitsSample
Day Three: Riding the CAB
By Sean Fryer
“And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” Acts 2:42
Have you ever ridden in a cab? It’s not the best experience. It can be slightly gross, scary, and at the very end of it, the total you have to pay brings you to the brink of bankruptcy!
As weird as this sounds, that's a lot like what it means to be in real Christian relationship with one another. It can be messy (I’ll never forget the time I was around 70 barfing eighth graders on a missions trip), sometimes a little scary, and may cost us something (time, energy, honesty, vulnerability) . . . but it is also so rewarding because God created us to be with one another, to have relationship, friendships, to do life together. So today, we’re going to ride the CAB!
Community: Read Acts 2:40–47. This is a beautiful picture of what being in community looks like. Praying with and for each other, studying the Bible together, and the best part, eating together! God wants us to share our lives with one another.
Accountability: James 5:16 tells us to “confess your trespasses to one another.” This is one of the costly parts of Christian relationships. It's not easy to tell people your sins. It’s not easy when you have to admit you’ve failed or fallen short, but it’s worth it!
Sin wants to isolate and suffocate us. It loves nothing more than having us to itself. But confession can break the power that sin carries over us. And here's the thing: In real Christian relationships, our job isn’t just to rebuke each other and make our friends feel bad about their sin. Instead, we’re called to “comfort each other and edify one another” (1 Thessalonians 5:11).
Belonging: Everyone wants to belong; that’s just a fact! And in the body of Christ, we all have a place! 1 Corinthians 12:18–19 says, “But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. And if they were all one member, where would the body be?”
We belong to the body of Christ, and that means we have a place. And there’s not one part of the body that is more important than another, and there's not one single unimportant or less valuable part of the body. Your toes might not seem like much, but have you ever stubbed your toe on the corner of some furniture? It becomes a pretty big deal then! And here’s the coolest part . . . Whatever part of the body of Christ you are, God has set you there “Just as He pleased.” Your role pleases God and was specifically made for you!
So what are you waiting for? Hop in the CAB and be ready for the ride of your life!
PAUSE: Which of these areas in your life are you lacking?
PRACTICE: Pick just one for now. Figure out a way to implement it in your life.
PRAY: God, bring me into authentic Christian relationship. Help me have a life that I share with others and glorify You. Amen.
About this Plan
In this five-day devotional, we'll explore a few key spiritual habits that allow us to get to know Jesus better, grow spiritually, build deeper relationships, and get the most out of this life.
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We would like to thank Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: http://CalvaryFTL.org