Josh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample

WHAT REALLY MATTERS. You know what a poll is, right? Somebody calls your house or walks up to you in a mall and says something like, "We're taking a poll of the eating habits of North Americans, and we'd like to ask you a few questions." Then the person asks you things like, "What's your favorite food?" and "Have you ever eaten raw iguana?" Well, let's take a poll of our own. Just answer the following questions as completely as you can (on a sheet of paper): What television shows do you watch on a regular basis? What singers or singing groups do you listen to on a regular basis? What magazines do you receive or read on a regular basis? Finally, take a few minutes to think about the TV shows, singers, and magazines listed above. Which of them encourage you to be pure? Which of them encourage you to think, say, or do impure things? That's an important question because God's commands show us that he values purity. If God values purity, we should value purity, too, don't you think? If we value purity, that will mean we won't feel comfortable watching, reading, or listening to stuff that isn't pure. Whether you get to see the latest episode of Barbaric Tales or not doesn't really matter; staying pure in thought, word, and deed does. REFLECT: In Philippians 1:10, Paul says, "I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until Christ returns." What do you think really matters? If you're not sure, read Philippians 1:9-11 again. Do you value purity? Why or why not? What really matters most to you? ACT: Look back over the TV shows, singers, and magazines you listed. Cross out any that encourage you to think, say, or do impure things and determine to find better ways to spend your time. PRAY: "Lord, I know that you command purity because you value purity. Help me to act in ways that show how much purity means to me, too."