God's Youth Ministry

Last post, I asked about a belief in God’s youth ministry. I’m convicted that God still actively seeks to reconcile the world, including our youth. What did Paul say? “God gives the increase” and “we are fellow laborers with God.”

God pursues relationship. He deeply desires that his children rest in his arms and not rebel against him. Sometimes we act as if God is merely letting things play out. “It’s all up to us,” we mutter in despair. But I refuse to see it that way. In fact, taking such a perspective becomes a barrier to God’s outreach. And when this attitude arises it becomes about us and not God.

From my current perspective, we should aim to acknowledge God’s work, pointing others to the God trying to reach them and ready to accept them. As far as our young generation, they need to see God’s relevance in real life. Our actions toward the youth must relay a message that emphasizes that God seeks the them, now, where they’re at—not some distant mirage of who they think they should be. Ah…plant and water as Paul put it.

As I see it, our ministry, in conjunction with God, involves planting seeds of the Father’s love and acceptance through expressing the redemptive work of Christ in our lives to others. But through this labor, we must realize God craves a relationship with every person we encounter; he’s active in pursuing reconciliation. Let’s trust in that—he can make it happen if we’ll step aside and let him.