Josh McDowell's Youth DevotionsSample

FAITHFUL GOD. Look over the following list, and in every circumstance below see if you agree or disagree that God will be faithful to you or will still love you, still believe in you, and still expect the best from you: If I eat all my vegetables at dinnertime If I don't eat all my vegetables at dinnertime If I eat my brother's vegetables at dinnertime If I join the chess club If I join a motorcycle club If I join a CD, cassette tape, and videotape club If I sell everything I own and give the money to the poor If I sell everything my parents own and give the money to the poor If I sell everything my parents own and keep the money If I shave my sister's head while she sleeps If I shave my sister's head while she's awake If I'm kind to children and animals If I'm kind to children who act like animals Now, score yourself: If you disagreed with any instances on the list, you don't understand God's faithfulness. If, on the other hand, you agreed with all of them, you probably know something about God's faithfulness that most people don't understand. You see, God isn't like many of our friends and acquaintances. He isn't faithful to us only when we act a certain way. He isn't faithful to us only if we do what he wants. He is faithful to us no matter what, because faithfulness is a part of his nature; it's part of who he is. That's what the Bible means when it says, "If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself (2 Timothy 2:13). He can't stop being who he is, and since faithful is part of who he is, he can't stop being faithful. That means he will always love you, always believe in you, and always expect the best of you. He will never leave you, he will never betray you, he will never let you down. No matter what you do, he remains faithful-because that's who he is. REFLECT: Have you ever failed God? Have you ever ignored him? Disappointed him? If so, did he leave you or forsake you then, or was he faithful to you? (Remember that faithfulness isn't just what God does; it's part of who he is.) PRAY: Look up the hymn "Great Is Thy Faithfulness," and read or sing it aloud as a prayer to God. (If you need help locating the hymn, ask your parents.)