Dear Typical Teenager of Today:
You are made for great things! Your life is an incredible gift and blessing, to be used to do so many great things. Your teen years are the time of your life when you have the most time, energy, and freedom without all the responsibilities of adulthood. You have been given gifts, talents, and interests, and they all serve one purpose: to honor and glorify God.
I am deeply concerned, however. You don’t seem to want to make the most of your energy, time, freedom, and gifts. You seem content to hang out with your friends, update your Twitter account, and never look up from an endless stream of texts. Thoughts of entertainment, your boyfriend or girlfriend, and how many friends you have on Facebook occupy your mind. Making good use of your years as a young person is not even on your radar. Most importantly, you hardly give a second thought to your relationship with God.
This worries me. You already know that the teen years are the prime years of your life and that you should use them wisely. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Because, you see, these years aren’t to be used for selfish gain. These years are to do great things for the Lord when you have the added advantage of your youth. Of course, you can’t do any of that if you aren’t trying to strengthen your faith.
I know, I know, I’m sure you are a Christian – you go to church sometimes, and you show up at youth group more often than not, right? But therein lies my concern: that is as far as you take it. Beyond having pizza on Wednesday nights (and there’s that smathering of Bible-study stuff, too) and going to church on Sundays (the worship band so rocks it out!), you really don’t seem to care.
Your faith doesn’t seem to have any priority in your life. It’s tacked loosely on to the end, without another glance. It’s probably because your parents make you go anyway, right? But of course you are saved -–so why am I worrying?
Because there is more to Christianity than this. God strives to know you, to have a relationship with you, and you are blowing Him off like it doesn’t matter. It matters more than anything else! He is the only one who will love you unconditionally, who gave His life so that you could spend eternity with Him. Does He not deserve more of your time, your dedication, your whole entire self?
I want to ask you to strive for more. To give up your lukewarm faith, and to work toward a “hot” faith in Him. He calls you to be His disciple – He deserves more than an obligatory nod on Sundays and Wednesdays. He asks you to whole-heartedly give yourself to Him and to live every day serving Him.
God doesn’t want you to waste these years. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have found contentment in the things of this world. God offers a fulfillment and peace like nothing else, and it can only be found by following Him. I want to experience that peace, and I want to do the great things He has planned for me now. Don’t you? Will you join me?
You are made for great things! Your life is an incredible gift and blessing, to be used to do so many great things. Your teen years are the time of your life when you have the most time, energy, and freedom without all the responsibilities of adulthood. You have been given gifts, talents, and interests, and they all serve one purpose: to honor and glorify God.
I am deeply concerned, however. You don’t seem to want to make the most of your energy, time, freedom, and gifts. You seem content to hang out with your friends, update your Twitter account, and never look up from an endless stream of texts. Thoughts of entertainment, your boyfriend or girlfriend, and how many friends you have on Facebook occupy your mind. Making good use of your years as a young person is not even on your radar. Most importantly, you hardly give a second thought to your relationship with God.
This worries me. You already know that the teen years are the prime years of your life and that you should use them wisely. I’m sure you’ve heard that before. Because, you see, these years aren’t to be used for selfish gain. These years are to do great things for the Lord when you have the added advantage of your youth. Of course, you can’t do any of that if you aren’t trying to strengthen your faith.
I know, I know, I’m sure you are a Christian – you go to church sometimes, and you show up at youth group more often than not, right? But therein lies my concern: that is as far as you take it. Beyond having pizza on Wednesday nights (and there’s that smathering of Bible-study stuff, too) and going to church on Sundays (the worship band so rocks it out!), you really don’t seem to care.
Your faith doesn’t seem to have any priority in your life. It’s tacked loosely on to the end, without another glance. It’s probably because your parents make you go anyway, right? But of course you are saved -–so why am I worrying?
Because there is more to Christianity than this. God strives to know you, to have a relationship with you, and you are blowing Him off like it doesn’t matter. It matters more than anything else! He is the only one who will love you unconditionally, who gave His life so that you could spend eternity with Him. Does He not deserve more of your time, your dedication, your whole entire self?
I want to ask you to strive for more. To give up your lukewarm faith, and to work toward a “hot” faith in Him. He calls you to be His disciple – He deserves more than an obligatory nod on Sundays and Wednesdays. He asks you to whole-heartedly give yourself to Him and to live every day serving Him.
God doesn’t want you to waste these years. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have found contentment in the things of this world. God offers a fulfillment and peace like nothing else, and it can only be found by following Him. I want to experience that peace, and I want to do the great things He has planned for me now. Don’t you? Will you join me?