Q4 CLE - Reflections on HS camp: LAKAS

High School Camp: LAKAS

The theme of the HS Camp last January 5-7 is LAKAS or Strength. We need strength to handle the different challenges that come our way. Whether it be challenges in the family, relationship with friends, in our studies, or just to be able to handle the changes that teenagers undergo. We can try to get strength from different sources – from family, friends, music, being alone, etc. However, let us look at the following Scripture verses and find out what they tell us about where we can draw our strength. Write down your reflection for each of the following verses and at the end, give a summary or conclusion about what it says to you about being strong. The Reflection Paper should be at least 3 pages.

S – Set Apart

1 Peter 2:9 – “But YOU are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession, that YOU should declare abroad the excellencies” of the one that called YOU out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

By accepting Jesus Christ, both Jews and non-Jews became “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for special possession.” They were “chosen” by God as his people, called to be king-priests in association with Jesus, constituting a nation set aside for a holy purpose, and were obtained as the Most High’s own property with the priceless blood of his Son.

This is an outstanding display of mercy! This moves me to imitate Jehovah God’s divine mercy to others. To be merciful is part of spiritual strength.

Part of being merciful is to speak about the “excellencies,” the marvelous deeds, of my heavenly Father.

T – Trust

Hebrews 3:13 – “but keep on exhorting one another each day, as long as it may be called “Today,” for fear any one of YOU should become hardened by the deceptive power of sin.”

If we do not pay close attention to spiritual things, God’s promises may well come to seem unreal. This happened in the first century among Christian congregations. That is why God through the apostle Paul warned the above to them.

Paul’s expression “beware” emphasizes the need to be alert. Danger threatens! A lack of faith—“sin”—might develop in our hearts, and we could draw away from God instead of closer to him. (James 4:8)

Paul reminds us to “keep on exhorting one another.” We need the warmth of brotherly association. “One isolating himself will seek his own selfish longing; against all practical wisdom he will break forth.” (Proverbs 18:1) The need for such association moves Christians today to be regular in attending congregation meetings and conventions. Through this upbuilding association, a Christian can be helped to be strong in these trialsome times.

R – Righteous

Romans 3:23-24 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and it is as a free gift that they are being declared righteous by his undeserved kindness through the release by the ransom [paid] by Christ Jesus.”

Understanding the process of heredity, we can see why we all are imperfect—why all of us sin and die. Adam, the father of all humankind, turned away from God, sinning and damaging himself. 

Having lost perfection, he could not pass it on to his children. Knowing that we all sprang from one father, inheriting imperfection through no fault of our own, should make us more considerate and kind toward one another.

Also, we may receive release from the bondage of sin and death if we will have faith in the ransom sacrifice of Jesus. Through this ransom, the love of Jesus’ Father, Jehovah, was clearly shown. “God recommends his own love to us in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

By gaining knowledge of and applying wisdom on Jehovah’s righteous standards, as written in the Bible, I want to show my love for Jehovah and Jesus. This love gives me strength.
(1 Corinthians 13:13) ¹³ Now, however, these three remain: faith, hope, love; but the greatest of these is love.

O – Open

Proverbs 13:18 – “The one neglecting discipline [comes to] poverty and dishonor, but the one keeping a reproof is the one that is glorified.”

Often young people go to their youthful companions and seek their advice and counsel, ignoring what their parents and older men who are Christians say. Such youths remind one of young King Rehoboam (First Kings, chapter twelve). After the death of his father Solomon, Rehoboam asked for, but then ignored, the advice of the older men who had been advisers and counselors to his father. Rehoboam also went to the young men with whom he grew up and asked their counsel and advice. They offered him bad advice and encouraged him to take a harsh, unkind course of action. 

The result? In following the advice of the younger persons instead of the older men, King Rehoboam lost five-sixths of his kingdom, and he had nothing but sorrow and trouble the rest of his life.

In contrast, I should be open to receive loving discipline from God through my parent and other authorities (at school and in the Christian congregation). I should apply this so I can be strong:

(Proverbs 1:2-9)  ² To learn wisdom and discipline; To understand wise sayings;  ³ To acquire the discipline that gives insight, Righteousness, good judgment, and uprightness;  ⁴ To impart shrewdness to the inexperienced; To give a young man knowledge and thinking ability.  ⁵ A wise person listens and takes in more instruction; A man of understanding acquires skillful direction ⁶ To understand a proverb and a puzzling saying, The words of the wise and their riddles.  ⁷ The fear of Jehovah is the beginning of knowledge. Only fools despise wisdom and discipline.  ⁸ Listen, my son, to the discipline of your father, And do not forsake the instruction of your mother.  ⁹ They are an attractive wreath for your head And a fine ornament for your neck.

N- Never Give Up

1 Corinthians 13:7 – “It [love] bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things.”

Love and trust go hand in hand. Moved by love, Jesus demonstrated a willingness to trust his disciples despite their imperfections. He had confidence in them and believed that at heart they really loved Jehovah and wanted to do His will. Even when they made mistakes, Jesus did not question their motives.

Jesus provided us with a marvelous example in showing love to others. Of all the ways that we can follow him, imitating his love is the most important.

G- God-awe

Philippians 4:13 - For all things I have the strength by virtue of him who imparts power to me.

In the above text, the apostle Paul spoke of spiritual resources that enabled him to be content regardless of material circumstances. Rather than looking to his possessions or his circumstances, Paul looked to God to satisfy his needs. The result was contentment.

Even though the way of Christian integrity is narrow and testing, we do have constant help available. (Matthew 7:13, 14) We can acquire godly power through constant prayer, through a study of God’s Word, and through association with the Christian congregation. (Ephesians 4:11-13; 6:18; Psalm 119:105).