Is He Worth It?

This past weekend, we wrapped up our teachings through 1 Peter entitled, "King Me."  In our final week in 1 Peter, we saw that oftentimes when we live by a different set of life rules in our new identities found in Jesus, we are going to knock heads with the rest of the world around us...
Because in Jesus, we have everything we need...we aren't swayed to live in a certain way or not in a certain way based on what it can get us or what it will make us into...in Jesus, our identity is set...he conquered sin and death, and for those who know Him as their Savior, there is no letting go!  The problem is, everyone else around us is still trying to fill the God-sized hole in their lives with things in this life that won't satisfy.  So they do this or that...go here, try this, in hopes of finding the source that they have been searching for...so when you, a child of God with an unchanging hope and identity in what Jesus was for you, bump into the movement of culture, you will undoubtly look and act differently than everyone else...this means you may suffer or struggle in this life, because to be honest, you're not a part of this world anymore...you're living for something more!
So...when your friends go one way, and you go another, or you stand up for what you know pleases God and is life-giving, this life may get hard.
So my ONE QUESTION to you this week is, "Is He worth it?"
1 Peter 4:16 says that, "If you suffer as a Christian do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name." 
This is one of those verses that seems easy to cheer for and agree with when we are sitting in the comforts of youth groups...but when it comes to the hallways of high school, it is another story.  But really, how we react to living for Jesus (or not living for Jesus), comes down to how we view who He is.
The turning point of this entire book of 1 Peter comes in chapter 2:1-3.  He goes from reminding us about who we are in Jesus, to how that should look in our lives...and He does so with one simple If/then statement- If you have tasted that the Lord is good...then it will impact your life.
If you have experienced the beaty of His live-giving death on the cross...if you have tasted His love for you in the midst of your sinfulness, if you have seen that He is greater than anything this life can offer you...then when suffering or pain or lonliness for your faith comes along, you won't forget your identity and you will be blessed for following Jesus...and here is the best part...you won't be perfect at this...you will give in, you won't be be strong enough, when the opportunity comes to stand up for your faith, you will back down like a coward...guess what...Jesus' life and death and ressurection are still enough when you aren't good enough- that is the whole point of this book!
This is how the world works...do this and get that...act like this and become like that.
The Gospel says, Jesus has done it for you- trust in Him!
The first option is slavery...the second option is freedom...we have a never ending identity in Jesus, so we are free to live for Him because everything we need is found in Him...we don't have to earn it by our good lives- that is worth living for.
Here is the point...if Jesus is just a ticket to heaven for you...but you still want everything this life has to offer...it ain't going to work.
But...if you have realized that you were created for Him, turned from him to yourself as King, and yet realized that this life can't fix the void in your life- only Jesus can, and you have put your trust in Him alone for a new life and relationship with God, then you are free....He will be worth it!
So student, have you tasted that the Lord is good...that He is satisfying for all of life?  Because in life, there are always things that we will be willing to sacrifice ourselves for...a friend, an event, a sport, etc...but have you tasted the greatness of Jesus...He is so worth it!