Tag: youth

The Battle is Real

Today’s reading is Psalm 81.

Psalm 81:1-3 begins with an instruction to worship the Lord with songs, instruments, and praises. There is then a reminder to Israel of what God has done for them in Psalm 81:6-8 and then a warning to listen to God and put him first in Psalm 81:8-12. This is followed by a promise to provide for Israel when they put God first in Psalm 81:13-16.

Over the last few months it seems as though we’ve seen a substantial number of mass shootings, including multiple in churches with one this past weekend. This is in addition to many other heinous crimes in the news. Despite these terrible events, I’m more encouraged than ever in my 42 years on this Earth that the people of the United States are turning back to God. I’m not going to site all the sources, but you can quickly do your own research to find that there are increased Bible sales, increased streams of Christian music even out pacing top secular artists, and church attendance and baptisms are growing rapidly. What’s maybe most encouraging is that Generation Z (those born between 1997-2012) is leading the way in these areas. Our youth, the future of our country and the ones who will are and will be getting married and having kids, is turning to God. Praise the Lord!

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

1 Timothy 4:12

Boy are they ever, and I could not be prouder. It seems as though a revival is happening through them and also carrying over to older generations as well.

So why are all the other terrible events happening we read about in the news and maybe even see firsthand? God is real, so that means Satan and evil is real. In fact, I’ve seen some saying on social media that recent terrible events prove evil is real so that God also must be real, spurring them to go to church.

For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

The Bible tells us the battle between good and evil, spiritual warfare, is real. Satan is fighting back. But, God also tells us in Bible from the very beginning when sin entered the world that He would defeat it through Jesus.

He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.

Genesis 3:15b

As a recent popular saying on shirts says, Jesus won. He defeated sin and the grave through His Resurrection so we can too when we give our life to Him. Let us remember that as we see evil and let us pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to win hearts in our country and throughout the world one by one.

Youth Is No Excuse

Today’s reading on Thanksgiving is 2 Thessalonians 1-3 which is the entire, short book.

Paul is writing this letter to the church he founded in Thessalonica which is now part of northern Greece. In this letter Paul addresses how we must be ready for trouble and adversity from the Evil One before the Second Coming, as well as warning against idleness.  Since today is Thanksgiving, we will mostly focus on verses 2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 where he gives thanks for them.

Thanksgiving

3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers,[a] as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

Who do you think of when you read this? Today’s young people…we will say 15-25 year old’s get a bad reputation for being on their phones all the time, having everything given to them, and for being lazy. I have to laugh though because the same people that criticize youth for having everything given to them or always getting a trophy are the same ones that gave these things to them! A little ironic…don’t you think?

Although most would say our society is moving away from Christian and Biblical values as a whole, I have recently taken notice of a growing number in the 15-25 year old age group who are very convicted in their faith and living in a way that aligns with the Bible’s instruction. They read their Bible, attend church regularly, typically are involved in a Bible study or small group, listen to Christian music, and are also committed to keeping sex sacred to the marriage relationship. While I don’t have any specific numbers to back how many or the growth so to speak, it seems to me it is occurring. I don’t know whether a poll would say the number in this age group who believe are growing, but is my personal observation that the ones who are believers are actually living out their faith through their actions more so than previous generations who would have said they were believers, too. I’m not trying to start a debate or call one generation better than another, but rather pointing this out so we take notice. Not only should we give them credit and give thanks for them, but we can learn from them and their example even (1 Timothy 4:12).

Why is this occurring in this age group despite society trying to tell this age group they don’t need God  or biblical values and are free to live however they feel? I believe it is for a couple reasons. First, I believe God has planted it in our hearts and minds to know what’s truly right and wrong. Secondly, I believe there is so much confusion about what is the truth, young people (and all of us for that matter) are attracted to the one place we can go for all truth which is the Bible.

When you woke up this Thanksgiving and thought about what you were grateful for today, I doubt this group of young people was on your list. However, will you join me today in thanking God for them and also praying that will continue to stay convicted in their faith despite the adversity and ridicule they are likely to face now and throughout their lifetime? This generation will shape our future.