Most people know the story about Jesus where He goes back to his home town and people say things like, “Isn’t that Joseph the Carpenter’s son? Who does He think He is?” and Jesus says, “A prophet is never accepted in his home town.” Kind of like when you see a film that says “Directed by Ron Howard”, do you think,” A great director with a long track record of great films” or “Little Opie on The Andy Griffith Show”?

The first taste most people get of this is going to college. You get to start life again with a blank slate. You have no history. There are no defining moments for people to identify you by — yet. The question is, are you going to build on what you’ve learned about life so far or continue to make the same mistakes? I think that opportunities like that are good in that we are freed from the “unjustified boxes” that people put us in. For example, at the church I grew up in, I will always be “the Ennis boy” no matter how old I am. But since then, I’ve moved on, “grown in stature and wisdom” and been able to serve in other churches in a greater capacity. Now some people do this to escape their own “justified boxes” — AKA: running from your problems. They dig themselves into a hole and then split the scene — only to dig a similar hole where ever they end up next.

Either way, where ever you end up, realize that sooner than later you WILL have a defining moment. Be yourself but careful and wise about how you will be defined. A couple bad days can easily create a box. Ask what God is teaching you and how you can grow in Christ by being where you are. Careful now, growing in Christ isn’t just about you — it’s about serving in the Kingdom.