Welcome to the Youth Corner of America’s Christian Newspaper!
Building Faith. Finding Truth. Living for Jesus.
Hey, young people! The world has a lot to say about how you should look, act, dress, think, and live. Social media tells you what is popular. Friends may pressure you to go along with the crowd. Sometimes, doing what is right can make you feel like you are standing alone. But have you ever stopped to ask yourself, “Am I living to please the world, or am I living to please God?”
This is your place to discover what God’s Word says, find encouragement for everyday challenges, and learn that you can stand for truth in a changing world.
SCRIPTURE OF THE WEEK
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
— 1 Timothy 4:12 (KJV)
You do not have to wait until you are older to make a difference for God. Your words, your choices, your attitude, and the way you treat others can be a testimony of your faith. You can be young and still be an example of what it means to live for Jesus Christ.
A PARABLE FOR TODAY: THE TWO PATHS
Two young friends walked into school every morning. Both had dreams, both wanted to be accepted, and both wanted to feel like they belonged.
One friend decided that fitting in was the most important thing. If the crowd made fun of someone, he joined in. If his friends encouraged him to do something wrong, he went along with it. He laughed at things he knew were hurtful because he feared being the next person left out.
The other friend faced the same pressures, but he made a different choice. He remembered what he had learned from God’s Word. When others mocked someone, he refused to join in. When his friends encouraged him to compromise his beliefs, he stood his ground. Sometimes he felt lonely, and sometimes others called him old-fashioned. But he knew that being accepted by everyone was not worth losing his character.
As time passed, the first friend discovered that the crowd’s approval could change overnight. The people who praised him one day might criticize him the next. The second friend learned that doing right was not always easy, but a clear conscience and a heart determined to please God were worth more than popularity.
THE LESSON: The world may change its standards, and people may change their opinions, but God’s truth remains the same. You cannot always choose what others think of you, but you can choose the path you walk.
Jesus taught about two ways in Matthew 7:13–14 (KJV), describing the strait gate and the narrow way that lead unto life. The right path is not always the popular path, but it is the one we should seek.
Remember: Don’t trade your convictions for a few moments of acceptance. Stand for truth, even when standing means standing alone.