Can you imagine a football coach who doesn't require his team to come to practice, and when they do, says "Thanks for coming, hope you can make it next time!"  For one, you would say this team is a joke.  Secondly, the team would be guaranteed to lose, and three, no one would even want to be on that team.  Everyone knows that without sacrifice and commitment, its impossible to achieve anything worthwhile.  It would be an unorganized and chaotic "team" that would accomplish nothing.

It seems that church gets the same treatment sometimes (and to be fair, the American church structure has created this ultra-nice form of discipleship).  If you claim to be a Christian, it requires discipline.  It requires weekly and consistent attendance at small groups or youth groups or church services.   Coming and being involved when it's "convenient" or "when you feel like it" just isn't enough.  Christ calls for complete and total commitment from those who claim to be His followers.

In terms of caring for you soul, what is more important?  Money?  Friends?  Trips?  Career?  Being in a serious dating relationship?  What good is it if you gain all these "things" you desire, and yet you lose your soul?

If you give God your leftovers, then you can expect very little for your investment.  You reap what you sow.  You get out what you put in.

All of the "things" listed above are important and necessary at times, but the Lord makes it clear its all about priority:  if you seek God FIRST, you will find the things and desires that you hunger for, and they'll be even more fulfilling, because you're following Christ first, and God will give you a peace and a joy because you're doing what Christ commands.  When you act on your faith, it comes alive.  Seek God first, and everything else you need (or think you need) will fall into place (check out Matthew 6:33)

You see, we can't make ourselves truly joyful, so the answer isn't only "working harder".  Therefore, the answer isn't only attending church and being more committed: it's letting your love for God drive your desire.  Put Christ first because you love Him, not just because someone told you to do so.  It's a relationship, not a religion.

Only Christ can give you the joy and contentment that you seek.  Jesus makes it clear that only He can give true life (read John 14:6).  When we put Christ as anything but first on our list of priorities in life, it isn't long before He sinks lower and lower on that list.  Oh, and how we justify it!  "I'll get to church next week."  "I'll get to it later"  "I'll do it when I have time"  But for many, more excuses are created in order to cover up old excuses as we seek to disguise the shame and guilt we feel for neglecting our relationship with God.  "I believe in God", you may think, "but I"ve crowded Him out.  How could I return?"

Christ will always welcome you with open arms, just as you are.  Let God take your mess, your problems, your insecurities, your addictions, even your anger.  Give them all to God, and let God mold you into the person He desires for you to be (and stop trying to mold yourself - its frustrating and counterproductive!)

The Bible says that today is the day of salvation.  Now is the time to decide who is first in your life.

I know that many of you reading this definitely do love God, and you want to know more about Christ.  I encourage you to stay close to God right now in your young lives, because anything and everything is trying to pull you away from the faith that you profess.  I encourage you to be at church every week, attend youth group, serve in the life of the church, and more.  Don't miss a week, because quite honestly (and in the grand order of reality), nothing is more important than your soul.  Do not neglect its care.  We are not guaranteed another day on this earth.  Make today count.

I encourage you because if you fail to make Christ your priority (and thus back it up with your actions), then something else will come to fill that void in an instant.

We love you.  Email us with any prayer requests for you or for friends.

Grace and peace to you