Good morning, Five Minute Families. ‘tis the season when many high schoolers are thinking more and more about their college applications. Some parents begin planning their children’s college years during pregnancy. For some families, they have been discussing details and needs every fall since 9th grade. For others, they are just now trying to figure it all out before deadlines hit. Articles abound with the six, nine, twelve, and even seventy-five (yes, SEVENTY-five) tips for getting into a good university.

Do you spend as much time thinking about how to build a strong family in Christ as some people spend thinking about getting into college? Unfortunately, most of us just let life flow around us and fit God into the picture when it works for our schedule OR when everything around us is falling apart.

So, let’s take the next few minutes to compare the college application process to walking the Christian life.

First, God isn’t a college admissions team. He sent His Son to die for you. Believe in Him and you are in. By grace you have been saved through faith, that is the gift of God. You do not have to be good enough, try harder, clean yourself up before coming. And, there is no need to go dorm room shopping. God is preparing a place that is perfect for you! John 14:1-3 tells us, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”

Second, college admissions want to see you stand out and prepare well for college life and making them proud to call you an alumnus. But, with God you cannot do anything to increase your chances of getting accepted because as a believer you already are accepted. Your children don’t have to be the best behaved kid in the room to prove you are a good and godly parent. You don’t have to say yes to everything you are asked to do in order to be accepted by God’s family either.

Third, growing in Christ - the sanctification process - takes work, and just like a college applicant has had to show themselves to be well-rounded by being committed to one or two extracurricular activities, we need to get involved in the service of the church. Given what James says about works in chapter 2 verses 18 and “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. … You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works,” we must realize that there is work to do while we are still on this earth.

Fourth, college hopefuls are encouraged to invest a lot of time in their application essays. It is said that “The college essay is the perfect opportunity to show schools that you are not just a statistic. … An essay provides the colleges another opportunity to communicate with you on a personal level.” Your testimony is an opportunity to share what God has done in your life and what He has done in your families’ lives. You might think that since you weren’t saved out of rock-bottom addiction or since you haven’t lived a life of suffering, you don’t have a testimony to share with others, but just like the college essay, it isn’t about the mind-blowing moments. Your testimony is about what God has done and continues to do in and through you. Take time to jot down the important points of your testimony and ask God to begin bringing people you can share it with.

And, fifth, just as college admission teams see through the ranking game that many students try to play, families should not try to “rank” themselves higher within the church by giving more money or more time. Let God lead where you should be serving and giving, and try to rest confidently in the role He has you and your family playing in your local church.

Growing in Christ takes work, more work than getting into a good college. How much work are you doing? Are you willing to argue with the kids to get up in time to get to church? Are you trying to have regular family devotions? Are you trying to memorize Scripture together? Just as the college admissions process includes schoolwork, homework, extracurricular activities, and the application itself, the Christian life involves corporate worship and learning, Bible study, prayer, and fellowship.

Remember, we aren’t trying to distinguish ourselves for attention or for greater honor in heaven. We are trying to distinguish ourselves for God’s glory and our good while still here on this earth.

Thanks for joining us this morning. Be blessed!