Church Of Christ - Youth Group

We all live and act like we have all the time in the world.  We don’t realize that the world is quickly running out of time to turn to God.  We need to keep in mind that we need to try and do our best with the time we’ve got.  Read Psalm 46 this morning before we jump into the rest of the devo.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.   Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.   There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells.   God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.   Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts.   The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.   Come and see the works of the LORD, the desolations he has brought on the earth.   He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire.   “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”   The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”

Kara and Meg were walking down the hall talking about how much homework they have and how they will never be able to get it done.  Then Maggie came along and told them that if they try their best, that’s all that counts.

Has this ever been your situation?  I know that almost everyone has this problem at one time or another.  We must remember, however, that, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (Psalm 46:1)  So, just by that we should know that God loves us and would never give us more than we can handle.

“And in all things, God works for the good of those who love him…” (Romans 8:28a)  We believe this, even if it does not seem like it is going to help us now.  There is a purpose for everything and it will all work out for the best.  So, the next time this happens to you, just remember what God says in Psalm 46:1.  This passage helps to comfort me and I hope it helps to comfort you, also.

Points To Ponder:  What kind of homework do you get that seems like it will never help you?  Is your favorite Bible passage one that comforts you?  Why do you think that Psalm 46:1 is a comforting Bible passage?

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray that God helps you to want to do your best and get all your work done.  Thank God for always being with you.  Ask for help to realize that everything works for the good of a Christian.

God is good and is always taking care of us - even if we don’t see it.  Read John 10:11-18 and see what kind of Shephard Jesus really is.

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.  The hired hand is not the shepherd who owns the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it.  The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.  “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.  I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd.  The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

My brother in-law and I always used to hike together in the mountains.  One day we went hiking and suddenly a storm came up.  It was heavy rain and snow.  All we saw was white everywhere.  Jon found a little opening and put me in there and made sure that I was safe, and then he came in.  A few hours later the snow cleared away and we walked down the mountain to our campsite safely.  He was protecting me from the wind, snow and rain.

What does being a “Good Shepherd” mean?  Being kind, caring, or honest to people, or even being the most popular?   In John 10:11, Jesus describes Himself to His listeners as being the Good Shepherd who “lays down his life for his sheep.”  Nothing, not even ravaging cold, thieves, or wolves, would come between the Good Shepherd and His sheep.  He would die for their protection.

Jesus came to sacrifice His own life for us.  Just like my brother sacrificed his body to protect me from the cold, God took all our sins away.  We can consider Him our protector, our Good Shepherd.  He is with us at all times, good and even bad.  John 10:15b says, “And I lay down my life for the sheep.”

Jesus will always be our Good Shepherd.

Points To Ponder: What have you sacrificed for the sake of another?  What is a Good Shepherd?  Why do we need a Good Shepherd?

Prayer Possibilities: Thank God for being our Good Shepherd.  Thank Him for the forgiveness of sins.  Pray for others who don’t realize who our Good Shepherd is and that they come to realize it’s JESUS.

What do you believe?  Do you believe everything you hear, or do you find out the facts for yourself?  This does not apply to just “regular” life, but also when it comes to the Bible.  Take a look at Mark 16:1-8 today as we look into this.

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.  Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”   But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.   “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.  But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’ “  Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.

A woman repeated a bit of gossip about a neighbor.  Within a few days the whole community knew the story.  The person it concerned was deeply hurt and offended.  Her friends were contemplating the rumor and wondering if it was really true.  Later, the woman responsible for spreading the rumor learned that it was completely incorrect.

In Mark 16:1-8, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome were told that Jesus had risen from the dead.  “Don’t be alarmed,” he said.  “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene who was crucified.  He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him.” (Mark 16:6)  I’m sure the doubts were rising in their mind if what they were being told was the truth.  We know, as Christians, that Jesus did die for our sins and then rose again on the third day.

Good news like this is the kind of gossip we ought not to be ashamed of, but rather go out and tell everyone.

Points To Ponder:  What rumors have been told about Jesus?  If the women who went to the grave first didn’t believe the angel, how would that have changed the first day of Jesus’ resurrection?  How can you help stop the spread of rumors?

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray to God for guidance about gossip.  Give thanksgiving to God for sending His Son.  Pray to God for guidance to not be judgmental towards people.

There is a show on TV that is quite popular called “Deal or No Deal”.  We often try to make deals with God.  Take a look at Genesis 17:1-7 as we see how that works out.

When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.  I will confirm my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.”   Abram fell facedown, and God said to him, “As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations.  No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations.  I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you.  I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.

Have you ever made a deal with a friend, that if your friend did something for you, you would do something for your friend?  Well, that is basically what God is talking about in Genesis 17:1-7.  He told Abraham that if walked before God blamelessly, then God would make Abraham the father of many nations.

God had made a covenant with Abraham; a contract in which He had placed Himself under obligation to Abram and his future descendants.  God said this in Genesis 17:7, “I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for generations to come…”  As you can see, God made a covenant to Abraham and He kept this covenant with Abraham, and neither of them broke it.

We need to learn that we should keep our covenants with others, just as God has kept His covenant with not only Abraham, but with all of us.

Points To Ponder:  What covenant did God make with Abraham?  What difficulties would you have keeping Abraham’s covenant with God?  What covenants have you made with your parents and teachers?

Prayer Possibilities:  Pray and thank God for keeping His covenants with people.  Say a prayer to help us not to make deals with people if we do not plan on keeping them.  Pray to God to thank Him for forgiving us when we don’t keep the covenants we make.

I know that you’ve all heard that life is short and we need to make every moment count.  That is super true, especially when it comes to serving God.  We need to live each moment as if Jesus were coming back soon.  Read 1 Corinthians 7:29-31.

What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.

Johnny was the best athlete ever at his high school.  He got a full scholarship to a Division I college to play football.  He was the pre-season pick for the Heisman trophy.  That is, until a freak off-season injury cut his playing days short.  Johnny stayed in good spirits throughout the ordeal, and realizing that he could no longer play football, he changed careers.  Johnny became Pastor John.  John was asked over and over how and why he could worship a God that essentially took his life away.  John always replied with, “I am training for best of all Superbowls, heaven.”

In I Corinthians 7:29-31, God says, “Time is short…For this world in it’s present form is passing away.”  John realized that his priorities were not straight.  His whole focus had been football.  Now that had been taken from him.  He needed something else.  God gave him a chance to rethink his life.

We have to look to heaven as well.  Time is short.  We can’t dwell on earthly deeds and desires.  We need to look to our heavenly home.  We have to take every opportunity to learn and show the love that our Savior has for us.  We don’t have much time left.  Be like John, for the end is near and we have to be ready.

Points To Ponder: How can you put God first in your life?  How can you get ready for heaven?  Which would be an easier change; a career, then ministry or, the ministry, then a career?  Why?

Prayer Possibilities: Ask God to help you always put Him first in your priorities.  Praise God for His wonderful gift of heaven.  Pray for a readiness to be in heaven.