Notes on the spiritual lives of teenagers.

 Those of us who think we are strong enough to do so will always seek to end a scriptural discussion quickly. But we tend to forget that faith has nothing to do with average intelligence or comprehension. If it did everyone would discern that God is good. Query-based conversations would never get started, the articles disapproving of them would not be written. We are here for those whose faith has overthrown their intelligence, regardless of the subject matter.

We, the learned among the children of God, should take nothing as a given. We should allow the young to struggle with the answers we give them until they are spiritually satisfied with their understanding of our answers. We must hang in there and continually answer often times the same questions in as many different ways as we can until they get it straight in their heads, hearts and spirits. Why? Because we don’t know what mountains they are climbing or what valleys they are presently lost in.

They are not a waste of our time. Many of our youth feel that they are secondary in our thoughts because they usually are. If Christianity causes us to treat them like seconds will it cause them to treat their children the same way? They are the reasons God gives us the time and wisdom we have. Our children should not be de-listed and relegated to being one of our ministries. At most churches children are ministries. They are dealt with in groups. They are compared to the entire group when it comes to their personal worth. Who can stand up to that?

Speaking of fruit…
Paul writing in I Thess 2:19-20;

19. “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?”
20. “For ye are our glory and joy.” KJV

Those children of God that will, at His coming, gather and say of Paul; “He loved us enough to stick with us.” will be his glory, joy and crown of rejoicing.

Will any of the children in our churches be able to say that about us to Christ at His coming? Will they be our glory, joy and crown of rejoicing?

We cut our conversations with our children off too quickly. When it comes to the heart of a seeking child of God, the conversation is never over until the seeker, by faith, says it’s over.

Does anyone really believe the verse in Ps 46:10; “Be still and KNOW that I Am God.”? Know carries in its definition the reality of a daily working relationship with the individual or thing known. If you don’t know or understand a thing you can’t fully explain it.

My original point runs the risk of being completely ignored. It would appear that in order to labor until they grasp it, you have to commit to knowing God. Paul did what he did and was committed to his ministry because he knew God.

Believing God leads to working with Him. Believing in God is only the stuff of conversation—constant conversation. Every religion to some extent believes in a God. Knowing God boils all of the dross away and only Jesus is left.

Do you want your youth to know God? Commit to know Him yourselves. If God has enough sense to make you capable of knowing your physical surroundings He has enough to make known to you your spiritual surroundings.

Get to know Him.