Yesterday, for the first time, I attended a youth service in Victory Church. It’s called Friday Night Youth. Every Friday, youth from everywhere gather there. They sing Christian songs, dance to God’s music, bond with each other, and a pastor talks about different inspiring messages every week. For this month, since it’s the LOVE month, the topic is about LOVE, SEX, DATING and GOD. Yesterday, the pastor talked about SEX. But I will be elaborating more on that matter in my next devotion. XD

I want to talk about the YOUTH today. I just recently turned 18, and my partner here in SALTandLIGHT is turning 19 soon. I also believe that most of our followers and readers here are all youth, so I guess it’s just apt for me to discuss and devote my morning today to writing about US. The NEXT GENERATION, the NEW LEAGUE of GOD’S SOLDIERS.

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WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT YOUTH: 

• “Don’t let the excitement of youth cause you to forget your Creator. Honor him in your youth before you grow old and say, ‘Life is not pleasant anymore.’ Remember him before the light of the sun, moon, and stars is dim to your old eyes, and rain clouds continually darken your sky. Remember him before your legs—the guards of your house—start to tremble; and before your shoulders—the strong men—stoop. Remember him before your teeth—your few remaining servants—stop grinding; and before your eyes—the women looking through the windows—see dimly.” (Ecclesiastes 12: 1-3)

• “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4:12)

• “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.” (Psalm 119:9)

• “Because we belong to the day, we must live decent lives for all to see. Don’t participate in the darkness of wild parties and drunkenness, or in sexual promiscuity and immoral living, or in quarreling and jealousy.” (Romans 13:13)

• “Have no part at all in the wrong things that young men like to do. Believe. Have love. Follow what is right. Live at peace. Do these things along with others who have a clean heart and talk to God.

Keep out of foolish quarrels. You know that they start fights.The Lord’s servant must not fight. But he must be kind to all people. He must be a good teacher to them. He must be patient with them.

When he corrects those who are against him, he must do it in a gentle way. It may be that God will turn their hearts to know what is true. ” (2 Timothy 2:22- 25)

———————————————————————————————————————————————————————-The BIBLE already tells it all. Don’t waste your youth on senseless, petty things, that you know, you will regret later on. I’m not telling you to stop partying, or clubbing, or drinking out, or living ‘young, wild and free’. If it’s the way you want to spend your youth, then I’m not in the position to lecture you. But don’t ever, ever forget GOD. 

At the end of the day, when you’re nursing a hangover, and you reek of cigarette smoke, God will always be the friend who will never leave your side until you somber up and you’re functioning normally again.

At the end of the day, after a breakup with your 13817819419491th boy friend, God will always be the one mending your broken heart and gluing its pieces together again.

At the end of the day, when your friends leave you because you don’t follow what they do, God will always be behind your back and He will treat you to good things afterwards so you will feel better again.

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The older generations always say that the youth has got its priorities all wrong today. Excuse me, but I beg to differ. If you have just seen the crowd in Friday Night Youth in Victory Church yesterday, you will also think otherwise. It’s amazing how so many young people gathered that night just to party with God. 

Many of us still have classes the next day. Conversely, many of us REALLY went straight from school to church, just in time for the service. I’m also sure that we all have our dose of exams, projects, plates, thesis and requirements to think about. A lot of us are all tired already because of the grueling week of school. And of course, many of us sacrificed our Friday nights (TGIF!) and hang-outs/ clubbing with friends, just to go to church.

Who says the youth is slowly demoralizing? NO. Actually, we are the NEW LEAGUE of GOD’S SOLDIERS. The youth can make a difference. It’s already happening right now, and we will all continue to grow. This is the time when our bodies and minds and souls are at peak. We’re all functioning at our best times, and it just makes sense to utilize our youth to SERVE GOD AND MAKE DISCIPLES.

If not now, when? When we’re already old and could even barely walk? When we have our full-time jobs already? It would be harder to commit to the Lord if you hadn’t develop the habit, I’m telling you.

Start young. Serve the Lord. You can do many things. The Lord needs you now, more than ever. He needs your talent. He needs your skills. 

He needs you. His children. :)

Here’s to the youth of the future! Someday, we’ll conquer the world! We are God’s newest army, and in the future, we’ll be on the front lines. Let’s all be prepared until that day. :) Let’s all live ‘young, wild and free’ in God’s love! <3