Where teens turn for help

Although this survey was taken several years ago, I doubt it has changed much. The survey, published in a teen magazine, revealed that only 4.1% of the teenage girls in America feel they could to go their father to talk about a serious problem.

More recently, USA Today published the eye-opening results of a study of teens under stress. When asked where they turn to for help in a crisis, the most popular choice was music, the second choice was peers, and the third was TV. Amazingly, moms were 31st on the list, and dads were 48th.

What does this mean? It means that moms and dads need to make sure they are close with their children, talking to them from a young age and encouraging them to be open with their problems. Children are a “heritage of the Lord: and the fruit of the womb is his reward” (Psalm 127:3). Make sure you treat them that way, and maybe they will trust and love you enough to consult you with their problems.

Kyle Campbell

Do you grow?

Just about every chapter in the New Testament talks about growth in a positive or negative fashion. For instance, in 2 Peter 3:18, the Bible says, "But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." That's a positive exhortation. However, in Hebrews 5:12, it says, "For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat." That verse is a negative chastisement for not growing.

We spend an enormous amount of time and money to be fit. My neighbor trains rigorously so she can run half-marathons. But I wonder how much better off she would be if she were to train for spiritual well-being and eternal realities.

When you think of it, it only takes about eight weeks to starve to death. A starving person has two options: they can either have no food or they can refuse to eat of it. In some places in the world, spiritual food is hard to come by, but in America, we all have fantastic opportunities with very little effort involved to be fed spiritually. No one is too far from the assemblies of the Lord's people and virtually everyone has at least one copy of the Bible in their home or multiple copies available online. The question is how hard will you work to do it? Will you "desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2)?

Kyle Campbell

"One faith"

In Ephesians 4 Paul lists what is known as the “seven ones.” He states in vs. 3 the purpose which these “seven ones” fulfill. He says, “Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Unity is the purpose. Vss. 4-6 says, “There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all.”

Each of these “seven ones” promotes unity in the kingdom of God, including “one faith.” Faith is used in this passage in the objective sense. Faith in this sense is the authority of God; it is the gospel. Many believe that all roads lead to heaven and if we are all sincere, it does not matter what we believe. This belief is false! There is no reason for unity if we can take separate roads and get to heaven. But there is a reason for unity because there is only one faith and only one way to Heaven.

Paul says in Galatians 1:8, “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” Paul tells the Galatians the same thing he told the Ephesians: There is one faith or one gospel. The result of following any other gospel is that we will be accursed. Only one road leads to Heaven and we must be sure that we are on that road! We must search the scriptures to see if we are in accordance to God’s word. If we find any error in us, we must be willing to change and do whatever it takes to get that wonderful place we call Heaven!

Jonathan Glaesemann

Abraham believed God

For students of the Bible, a big question is, “Was Abraham justified by faith or by works?” The answer is yes!

In every passage, one must be careful to examine the context. For example, Romans 4:3 says, “For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness.” Abraham believed God’s promise. There was nothing for him to physically do.

On the other hand, James 2:23 says, “And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.” This passage was discussing Abraham’s offering of his son Isaac on the altar. He obeyed God’s command. His faith compelled him to do so.

There is no conflict between these two passages. The birth of Isaac in Genesis 15 was an example of Abraham trusting in God’s promise. In Genesis 22, Abraham was told to sacrifice Isaac. This was a command, and Abraham obeyed without hesitation.

These two different events demonstrate that you, like Abraham, believe a promise, but you must obey a command. There is no conflict -- salvation cannot be by faith only!

Kyle Campbell

"Those who love God"

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Jesus commanded in Matthew 22:37: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” When we love God with everything we have, blessings are sure to come from it. Not only do we please God by fulfilling His commandment, but we are assured that “all things will work together for good.” But what does this statement truly mean? Sadly, many miss the point of this verse. Many use this verse to say that it doesn’t matter when bad circumstances arise in this life because God will take the bad and turn it into something good. This principal is correct to a certain point in that God can take something bad and turn it into something good. But that is not exactly what the apostle Paul has in mind with this verse.

If you look at the context and back up to vs. 18, Paul says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” Clearly, Paul is speaking of the day God will reward us with the glory of Heaven. Paul continues this thought all the way to vs. 28 where he says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Heaven is the reason all things will work together for good! We know God will help us and bless us in this life, but we can rest assured that it doesn’t matter if our circumstances work together for good or not. In the end, we will have Heaven which is all that really matters. Hang on through the trials and temptations that you go are going through. On the other side is a crown of life waiting for you if you if you are God’s child: glory more wonderful and more beautiful than you could possibly imagine! “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

Jonathan Glaesemann

Anxiety

Don’t be anxious! Paul wrote, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Philippians 4:6). There is nothing that should cause a child of God to worry. He was well aware of what causes anxiety. His nation was occupied by a foreign army and ruled by corrupt leaders. He was writing from prison, where he was being held as a result of false accusations. He was separated from those he loved; his motives had been questioned; and he had been misrepresented. Some were trying to undermine all that he had accomplished in starting churches. He suffered physically (2 Corinthians 11:23-29). Yet Paul said there would never be a crisis so troubling that God could not bring peace in the midst of it!

God will not necessarily take your problems away, but He will carry the load for you. He wants you to experience His peace, which is beyond human comprehension (Philippians 4:7). You will never fully understand how God could give you peace in some of the situations you face, but you do not have to understand it in order to experience it. You may know that God wants you to experience peace but wonder how this is possible, given what you are presently facing. Yet, scripture says to be anxious for nothing. God’s word clearly indicates that there is nothing you can face that is too difficult, too troubling, or too fearful for God. No matter what your circumstances are, turn your anxiety over to God and let His perfect peace guard your heart.

Kyle Campbell