We must prioritize Jesus above all and point others to Him.
Scripture: John 12:1-11
Central Truth
We can’t physically anoint Jesus’s feet with oil, but we have something even better to offer Him: our lives. We can offer Him our time, our attention, our obedience, and our love. When we do this, it spills over into the lives of others. It’s worth the sacrifice to humbly lay down whatever we have of value before the King of kings.
Key Question
How can thinking with an eternal mindset rather than a worldly mindset encourage you when others don’t agree with your godly decisions?
Keep in Mind
Most of us just want to be understood and accepted, and our students are no different. They crave acceptance from their families and peers, and many of them have likely faced situations when these people haven’t accepted their decisions. Maybe these decisions were sinful, or maybe these decisions honored Jesus. It can be very difficult for students who face opposition from the people they love when they make a decision to honor Jesus. But Jesus actually promised this would happen; He warned us that since people hated Him, we can expect people to also misunderstand, or even hate, us. But we have this hope: Jesus has overcome. Our students can take encouragement from seeking God’s approval over the approval of others. This will radically change how they make decisions, and instead of compromising to fit in or please others, they’ll be free to seek and follow the Lord’s will.
APPLICATION
When have you allowed the opinions of others to keep you from being obedient to Jesus?
THE WIN
FOR THE STUDENT: Living with eternity in mind affects all of our students’ decisions. It helps them focus on what truly matters rather than on worldly concerns. It also helps them prioritize living for Christ when the world tells them it’s crazy. It enables students to value God’s Word and obedience to Him over the opinions of others.
FOR THE LEADER: Our time is precious. As leaders, it can sometimes feel overwhelming to work, go to school, or take care of family while serving in ministry. But God sees your obedient sacrifice, and He delights in your offering.
