TVs and devices?
Be aware of what you’re being discipled by
me the one piece of data shared in a session that most affected her: In the time span from kindergarten through senior year of “All things are lawful, but not all things are profitable. All high school, kids spend – things are lawful, but not all things edify.” – 1 Corinthians 1. 11,000 hours in school 10:23 2. 20,000 hours in front of a screen 3. 800 hours in Sunday school (if they come every week durThis verse, like so many others, is a comfort to me; and a challenge. It’s difficult to grasp the freedom found in Jesus. Yes, ing that time) The point being made by the speaker was that the kids are I am free to do all things – make choices without fear that I being discipled in each of those scenarios. My brain instantly will be cast out of my Father’s hand. And yet, many choices I connected with that. In truth, we are all being discipled in the make can very seriously destroy my witness and wreck my life. I serve a gracious God that stands back and lets me choose. He various activities we find ourselves in each day, especially if we follow along blindly. also mercifully swoops in when I make the wrong choice. When my friend shared that data with me, I immediately In my younger years, my wrong choices were much more wondered: How many hours am I obvious and damaging in ways that discipled by social media compared everyone could see (sorry Mom “We are all disciples of something, to the time I spend in the Word? I and Dad). Now as an adult, wrong choices can be so subtle that they being discipled by something daily. read my Bible daily, but it doesn’t stick as firmly as it did before I wastsnake their way through my soul, What we give our time, heart, ed so much time scrolling through hanging on like clover patch – interand devotion to matters.” my social media feeds. And if this is sected and woven into every area of my habit, what kind of an example my life before I know it. am I to my children? My biggest sin? Pride. And my bigSo I am challenging myself in light of 1 Corinthians 10:23. I gest struggle? Social media. have freedom in Christ – freedom to put aside the things that Perhaps this sounds silly. Small and innocent compared to pull me away from Him and are not beneficial to my soul. My other struggles and sins we all face. The majority of us spend challenge is to pause / deactivate / delete my social media too much time on our phones and computers, and those of accounts for a time and just press into Jesus. Read His words us that were born before computers and smartphones were in more than I read other things. Listen to psalms and hymns and every home can very clearly grasp the amount of time being spiritual songs more than anything else. Speak His words to my wasted each time we fall into a crazy YouTube video rabbit children. Leave the TV off. trail. But more than a time sucker, I’ve lately seen how social I feel a great desire to turn off the other voices and let the media is changing who I am and it’s definitely not for the betLord Himself disciple me above all else. Otherwise, I fear my ter. heart will grow hard against my fellow man and I will cease to It’s not just me, or you. It’s our children. be useful in this life to what the Lord has called me to do – love A friend of mine, the director of the children’s ministry at and glorify Him and love His people. I believe this was Israel’s her church, once returned from a conference and shared with By Bethany Riehl
Greenleaf Friends Academy “Idaho’s Oldest Christian School” Est. 1908 • Classical Christian Education method of teaching and learning.
Our Mission: “Inspiring students to think clearly, act responsibly and serve passionately.”
• Daily bus transportation from Eagle, Star, Middleton, Caldwell, Nampa and Greenleaf • Affordable tuition with no additional fees
Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is now open for our Daycare and Pre-school program as well as K - 12. 20565 Academy Rd. | Greenleaf, ID 83626 | 208-459-6346 | gfaschools.org
38 May / June 2021 | Christian Living
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