THE BEST TEACHER

In talking to young people about preparing for the future, I’ve had several say something like this: “We must get into the world to experience different situations and temptations in order to grow stronger.”

This kind of thinking has misled many Christians and eventually turned them against God. Certainly we’re in the world (JOHN 17:15) and we see lots of upsetting, tempting and difficult situations all round us (at school, work and home), but we need to be careful that seeing those situations does not lead to choosing to live for ourselves rather than God. All of us would grow closer to God by following the pattern suggested in Psalm 1:1.

Firstly, let not our decisions and choices be controlled by the “counsel of the ungodly” (NKJV). Secondly, we shouldn’t put ourselves in a place where those who don’t know Jesus can overly influence our thought processes. Thirdly, let’s avoid getting comfortable with those who laugh at God, the Bible and His role in our life so that their thinking seems right to us.

Too much exposure to such situations may lead us away from God. Instead, it’s best to get our training, our guidance and our advice from the Bible and those who know it and love it. God, the Bible and our youth leaders, not experiences, are our best teachers.

To pray about . . .

Father help me to stay focused on You, even when things try to distract me. I don’t want to wander off from You. Please keep me close.

LET THE BIBLE FILL YOUR MEMORY, RULE YOUR
THOUGHTS AND GUIDE YOUR LIFE.

YouTh Edition – Our Daily Bread Ministries