Day 20

Today's devotional is hard! Do not read it if you want to take the easy road!

READ: Matthew 7:13-14

THINK: Today, I saw a video from a missionary talking to about 5000 High School students. And I'm wondering, what do you think about this verse?

Maybe you feel like these last 20 days have been tough... maybe not. Maybe you can't wait to get back to your music or TV shows that you've missed... maybe not. But have you really thought about this verse?

Jesus basically says that the gate and path are wide and easy (wide in other versions) that lead to destruction. Do you realize that most of the music that "everyone listens to" and most of the media that "everyone is watching" is actually destroying you? It's destroying your relationship with God. John 10:10 says the thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. The thing about the thief is that you don't realize he's a thief and you don't know when he's coming. If you did, he would be a pretty stupid thief and it would be impossible for him to steal, kill, or destroy.

You need to hear this: the world, and anything not centered on God, is trying to destroy you! The wide path... the easy path... the path that everyone else is on (including your "Christian friends") may be the "easy path".

But not only is the gate narrow that leads to life... but the path is narrow (and hard). So would going back to the same media choices be hard or easy? What media, that you listen to or watch, point you to Jesus? If it doesn't, then what is it pointing you to?

DISCUSS: The key to understanding principles like this, is discussing them with other people... your age. So I dare you, talk to some of your friends about this. Or is it "too hard"?

LIVE: What do you think God wants you to do? Post your response on the OurThirty blog...