Ever go to a teen music concert? Well, I happen to know VERY personally a mom who took her twelve-year-old son to a three-hour concert, and THESE are her brilliant deductions of that event--from her sore-seated perspective on the bleachers of a 7,000 seat sold-out concert! If the devotional is short, blame it (or thank it!) on a very tired out, deafed-out, wiped-out, mid-life mom! For you guessed it--*I* just happen to be that mom, so listen closely--the Well is not TOO far from the concert, and you may need to strain abit to hear me!! Here's what I learned!
A Helping Word...or Two!
Teens Like It Loud!...Mega-bass, mega-noise, AND a mega-group, The Newsboys, on tour with Josh McDowell. I had arrived with a carful of excited teenagers--one of which found seats for us all *on the bleachers,* where else? Certainly not the comfortable seats Mom would have chosen, but nevertheless, with a good bird's eye view of the crowd. AND a perfect spot to hear this teen-loved group in stereophonic sound. Great for the kids--they were on their feet, stomping, yelling, singing along, having a wonderful time. Mom? Well, just CLIMBING into the bleachers was an adventure, let alone SITTING there trying to retain my hearing for three hours! And the music? Certainly not the Gaither gospel music *I* knew and loved in the 60s. Most of the words were known only to the teens, who obviously had memorized every song their beloved group ever sang.
Did *I* like it loud? Did *I* like the style? No--but the kids did, and THAT'S why I was there!
Teens Like It Straight!...And they GOT it straight--from the heart of a dad named Josh McDowell. Now most of these kids came to hear the Newsboys--they had no idea who this middle-aged speaker was. But by the time he finished, you knew that not one teen there would ever forget him. "I grew up with an alcoholic dad, an abused mom, and a pretty messed up family," he recounted, and he had the kids' attention! No more noise, but many a chuckle, as Josh *told it straight* about right and wrong, about lying, about sex, and about sex some more! He knew how to get the kids' attention and he had it! With loving heart, he talked to them straight, mincing no words. He spoke of precepts, principles, and the Person of God--WHO is the REAL reason we don't do what we don't do!!
Did *I* like it straight? Yes--of course, I did. I'm a mom! But better still, I saw my son listening. I saw the kids listening. I knew *they* liked it straight--and THAT'S why I was there!
God Likes It Right!...God knows the unbelievable choices these kids face daily. Pressured unheard of in our generation; problems untalked of in our day! Lots of our teens are standing up, with God's help, to retain their virtue, to love their Lord, and to keep His Word. This mom heard their applause as Josh nailed down the truths of God's unchanging Word and commandments. And this mom saw perhaps a thousand others decide, of their own free will, to make a right choice, perhaps the FIRST right choice of their life, as they flocked to a counselling area to receive Christ. The staff, not expecting such enormous response, had to call for all youth pastors to assist!
Do *I* like it right? Am I so convinced of the validity of my faith that I will fearlessly stand it to the test, that I will faithfully pass it on to the next generation? You better believe it--and THAT'S why I was there!
Now I MUST admit that I'm glad it's OVER--I was tired, hearing-impaired, and knew the laundry still awaited me at home--AND the writing of this devotional!! I transported a carload of happy teens home, and heard perhaps the bottom line for it all--a twelve-year-old "little" boy, in the back seat, all his friends having been safely delivered to their homes, who quietly said, in his endearing, Jason-only way, "TH--anks, Mom!"
You're welcome, Jason. You heard it loud; you heard it straight; you've already made your choice for the Lord, and Mom's proud! You face alot more choices down the road ahead, but with God's help--and a little bit from Mom and Dad, you and your Bible-quizzin' brother are gonna make it--just fine!
And that's just a word--or two--from the bleachers of the SMS Hammons Student Center in Springfield, Missouri!
His Healing Word
"Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy [stranger] who is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the Lord your God, and observe to do all the words of this law; and that their children...may hear, and learn to fear the Lord your God...(Deuteronomy 31:13 (KJV)."
"Lord, we pray for the teenagers of our homes, our lands, our world. They face incredibly hard choices daily, temptations we never faced or dreamed of. Help them, guide them to internalize the faith we teach; that the choices they make will be right ones, pleasing in Your Sight. They are Yours, Lord; keep and preserve them from evil; grant us wisdom to train and nurture them in the ways of the Lord. In Jesus Name, Amen."
