Josh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample

WHAT NOW? Two angels sat in the heavens, their legs dangling over the edge of the firmament, as God began his work of creation. They watched God create day and night. "Cool," said the first angel. "I love fireworks." They watched God separate the waters into clouds and oceans. "Ooh," said the first angel. "Aah," said the second. Then, as they watched, God caused dry land to arise out of the oceans. Next, the angelic observers saw the land sprout with grass, flowers, alfalfa sprouts, cornstalks, bushes, and banana trees. Then, God flung the sun and the moon into place and spattered the sky with stars. The angels clapped and cheered. The display in the heavens was hardly finished when the voice of God thundered, and the earth seemed to teem with life: geese flying, fish swimming, horses galloping, monkeys climbing, and bees buzzing. Then God's voice thundered again, and the second angel pointed. The first angel's gaze followed the direction of the gesture. There, in the lush garden God had created, particles of dirt and dust were swirling together ... into the form of a man. Suddenly, the second angel bolted upright with a jolt. "Did you see that?" "See what?" the first angel asked. "You were in my way!" "He-he breathed into it! He breathed the breath of life into his new creation. He breathed his own life, his own spirit, into the man!" The two angels looked at each other, eyes wide with amazement. The first angel swallowed loudly. "Wow," they said in unison. It was pretty awesome. God gave to us humans something he gave to no other part of his creation: He made us in his image and gave us each a spirit that is like his own spirit. In fact, that's why God values our life so highly because he is the source of the life that's in every human being on earth. And if God values your life and all human life-so much, we should honor it and respect it, too. REFLECT: Do you think humans are different from the rest of God's creation? If not, why not? If so, why? How do you think God feels when people don't value the lives of others or even their own lives? ACT: Try to see others as special today because they are. Go out of your way to treat others with respect. PRAY: "Thank you, God, for breathing your own life into us."