“So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir” (Gal. 4:7). Though we all have earthly parents, God is our heavenly father. As youths and young adults, we need to be conscious of the fact that we are not children of this world but rather, children of God. As a teenager, it is tempting to be drawn into worldly desires; going to parties and engaging in immoral activities, etc. We need to remember that because we are children of God, we are different.

God is not saying we cannot have fun and enjoy life but rather, there is so much we can offer to His Kingdom at this youthful age and there is abundant joy in serving Him. (“Remember your creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, I find no pleasures in them” Ecclesiastes 12:1).

A few weeks ago, my friends and I planned to drive down to Connecticut for a cookout, there was only one problem-getting my parents to agree. I knew they would not willingly allow their teenage daughter and her friends go to a different state for a cookout. I went to the extent of crying in my plea to convince them to allow me to attend this cookout. Upon communicating my ordeal to my friends, one of them casually said “YOLO, you only live once so make the fun of it.” Immediately she said that, I knew something wasn’t right because as children of God, we do not only live once but twice, and, the second life we will have will be eternal and it will be with God, so how I live my life now matters. Here, I had two choices, either to disobey my parents and go to the cookout or stay home and find something else in the area to do. I chose to stay home…was it an easy decision? No because I wanted to be with friends and have some fun, but I also know as a child of God, I am different, I cannot do what everyone else is doing.

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Pet. 2:9) Why would we go back to the darkness (worldly desires) when God has pulled us out? What type of lifestyle are we portraying to our friends if we don’t obey God’s Word? How then can we go out and preach to our friends? We would sound like hypocrites which I’m sure none of us want to be.

As children of God, we are not of this world, we have a task to go out and pull people closer to God. That way people can know God like we do; as the Almighty, loving and caring Father. Next time you feel tempted or left out it’s okay, just know you are DIFFERENT!

– Leona A.

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