10 Nov, 2008

Under Pressure

When Life Administers a Crushing Blow

MILWAUKEE - Police in Milwaukee say a teenage boy has survived after being accidentally dumped into the back of a recycling truck and compacted. Police say the 14-year-old ran away from a boot camp-style school for teens Monday and hid in a recycling bin filled with cardboard. The bin was picked up by a Waste Management truck and dumped into the vehicle's rear compactor.

Waste Management spokeswoman Lynn Morgan says the truck continued on its collection route, compacting cardboard several times.

The boy wasn't discovered until the truck dumped its load at a recycling processing center.

He was semiconscious and was taken to a hospital, but police say his injuries aren't life-threatening.

Story from www.abc3340.com
Image from Google Images

2 Corinthians 4:8-10

8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. (NIV)

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about life as a Christian?

You've probably never found yourself in the back of a garbage truck with the walls literally caving in on you, but I bet you can remember a time in your life when it sure felt like it!

If there's anyone in the Bible who knew what it was like to be hard pressed on all sides, persecuted, and struck down, it was Paul! Yet somehow his spirit and faith always overcame, and he never failed to find joy and purpose in it all! But it was only because Paul carried with him, at all times, the knowledge and faith of Christ's death and resurrection, allowing the life of Jesus to shine in and through him, regardless of the hardships he faced.

And at times, although it may seem like you are lying semiconscious and completely buried in the wreckage of life, you can rest in the promise that in God's hands you will never be crushed, abandoned, or destroyed! So let His life shine a light on your circumstances and into the lives of those around you.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • Praise God for His perfect plan and for His promise to never allow the struggles of this world overtake you.
  • Take some time to really talk to God. Share with Him some of the ways in which you are feeling hard pressed in life - has it distracted you or kept you from the joy of Christ?
  • Ask God to help you remain joyful because of His promises. Ask Him to use you and your situation to reveal the life of Christ to those around you.

How can you connect today's story, God's Story scripture, and your story to others?

  • Take notice of those that are around you. You'll be amazed at how many of your friends are feeling like their world is caving in on them and it's only a matter of time before they suffer the last crushing blow. Be a listening ear for someone who just needs help processing life.
  • Pray for them - pray that God would give you influence into their lives and that you can speak the truth of God's promises in 2 Cor. 4:8-9.
  • Don't be afraid to share your own situation and connect to others through what God is doing (or has done) in your life and times of hardship.
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The Daily Bide is brought to you by a team of writers from Youth for Christ/USA. The writers all have various years of experience in youth ministry but share a common bond in serving Jesus and discovering what it means to abide deeply everyday and to connect God's Story with those around them. A number of the Daily Bide writers have also written portions of our 3Story® resources. You can check out our resources at the 3Story.org website or connect with our writers at 3story@yfc.net. If you have a question or a story you would like to share, please reference the Daily Bide date in your email.

YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.