One kid—let’s just call him Dylan—is usually an extremely energetic, happy kid, but one particular day that I saw him, he was very, very down. 

I asked him if he was feeling okay, and he replied, “Yeah.”

I asked him if he was sad, and he replied, “Yeah.”

So, of course, I asked him the cause.

Apparently, the previous evening, he was with some young people from his church at some sort of get-together. During the get-together, he was ignored and even had someone roll their eyes when he tried to be engaged. Needless to say, he was very distraught.

He reported that he did not want to be a part of that particular youth group anymore. 

Of course, I wanted to find out who these young people were and give them a piece of my mind. (Then they would probably roll their eyes at me, too!)

Unfortunately, these types of situations are a part of life and not just confined to that particular church youth group. 

I recently heard a sermon that spoke exactly to this situation. The brother asked something like, “Have you ever heard someone say that a particular person was their rock?” He went on to say that we should not lift people to the point that we are following them rather than Jesus. He said that people will let you down and disappoint you. This can affect your faith if it is placed in some human rather than the Lord. (Or, in this case, it could affect your attendance at the youth group.)
 
Of course, I tried to encourage Dylan. And, of course, this could have been a lesson on being nice to people, especially those who attend your church, and especially young, impressionable people. 

But instead, I want to encourage you to go to youth group in an effort to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

I want to encourage you to go to Wednesday night meeting in an effort to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

I want to encourage you to go to Sunday school in an effort to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

I want to encourage you to go to the Sunday preaching service in an effort to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

I want to encourage you to go to campouts, region conferences, and General Church conferences in an effort to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.

Let’s make Jesus our Rock!

Bro P.