A Message to Our Youth
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. – Romans 12:1-2
This week marks the time that many of you have started your educational program for another year. Whether you are in public school, private school, college, or are homeschooled you face daily challenges. Some are facing pressure from peers that want you to do something that you know is immoral. Articulate instructors may be trying to cast shadows of doubt upon everything that you have been taught from the Bible. Perhaps you have a horrible home life and do not really know what is right or wrong. There are numerous people that feel like a ship being tossed about by the waves of life. Wherever you find yourself, know that God is in control and he is able to bless us through any trials that we encounter.
In the above passage, the Apostle Paul instructs us to live for one that is greater than anything or anyone in this world. We are commanded to present our bodies as a sacrifice to God. This should be our goal as Christians, both young and old. We are oftentimes willing to sacrifice our bodies for the most trifling things in this world. Have you sacrificed your body in an immoral manner? Is the majority of your time devoted to the vain things of this world? If this is the case, we should repent and present our bodies a living sacrifice to God. Proverbs 14:12 states that, “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” We might think it right to compromise our values/morality in order to gain the attention of others, but this is wrong. Misery and heartache follow a compromise of God’s commandment.
Presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice is our reasonable responsibility as Christians. There are many things that you can find to occupy your time as a youngster. In high school and college people will encourage you to be involved with numerous organizations and causes. Well meaning parents and educators will try to occupy your time with sports and extracurricular activities. While many of these things not inherently sinful and some can even be beneficial, our primary concern ought to be our service unto God. Jesus teaches us to, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33).”
When we first serve the Lord, he will bless us with those things we need in our lives. All of the other activities that we engage in are vanity at the best.
In Ecclesiastes 2:11, King Solomon wrote, “Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.” As you read this book in the Bible you will notice that Solomon did a little bit of everything! He said that all of this was void of any true substance. The wise king concludes in Ecclesiastes 12:13, “Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” It is my prayer that you will not wait until you are old to come to this conclusion. Serve the Lord in your youth! Refuse to conform to the standards of this world. Study the Bible and stand up for Godly values. Seek a place to worship God in spirit and in truth. Our Heavenly Father will never lead us astray!
Michael Green, Jr. is pastor of Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church (www.palmchapel.org) in Crestview, FL. Palm Chapel meets every Sunday at 10:30am and Wednesday at 6:00pm. Pastor Green can be contacted at (850) 689-3383 or by email at pastormichael@palmchapel.org. Pastor Green warmly invites you to come and worship at Palm Chapel Primitive Baptist Church.
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