I recently was on the hunt for a particular gift that I knew an individual needed. I jumped into my car and drove to a store where I just knew I could find this item. I searched the store high and low but was unable find what I was looking for. Finally, I broke down and decided to ask the sales clerk where I could find it. To my surprise, the clerk informed me that they were sold out. I left the store disappointed, but on the way home this thought came to my mind. What if every Christian were “sold out” for Christ? The Bible tells us in Matthew 22:37, “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.” A sold-out Christian is one who is emptied of self, one who gives his all for Christ. As a Christian young person, there are several areas where you can be sold out for Christ.
• Church house—The Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord.” What is missing in this generation of teenagers is a commitment to the church house. We are told that 70% of teens who attend church never return to church after graduation from high school. What a tragic statistic! Though this may be said about some, I encourage you to be a young person who is “sold out” to the house of God.
• Clean living—It seems as though the world, the flesh, and the devil have launched every fiery dart at the Christian young person. We live in a day and age where holiness, righteousness, and clean living is mocked and criticized. It is going to take a “sold-out” young person to stand up for what is right.
• Commitment for Christ—I love the commitment of the Apostle Paul that is so evident when he tells us, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If we are not careful, we are committed to sports, recreation, hobbies, friends, and relationships—but our commitment to Christ is sorely lacking in comparison.
As I thought of being sold out for Christ, I thought of so many Christians who instead choose to sell out. I am reminded of Judas who, for thirty pieces of silver, decided to sell out. The term sell out refers to the compromising of one’s integrity, morality, and principles in exchange for money, success, or personal gain. Many teens and young adults are compromising their character and conviction for the sake of convenience and comfort. Are you selling out in any of the areas listed above? Instead of being a teen and/or young adult who sells out, be a young person who is sold out for God.
• Church house—The Psalmist said, “I was glad when they said unto me let us go unto the house of the Lord.” What is missing in this generation of teenagers is a commitment to the church house. We are told that 70% of teens who attend church never return to church after graduation from high school. What a tragic statistic! Though this may be said about some, I encourage you to be a young person who is “sold out” to the house of God.
• Clean living—It seems as though the world, the flesh, and the devil have launched every fiery dart at the Christian young person. We live in a day and age where holiness, righteousness, and clean living is mocked and criticized. It is going to take a “sold-out” young person to stand up for what is right.
• Commitment for Christ—I love the commitment of the Apostle Paul that is so evident when he tells us, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” If we are not careful, we are committed to sports, recreation, hobbies, friends, and relationships—but our commitment to Christ is sorely lacking in comparison.
As I thought of being sold out for Christ, I thought of so many Christians who instead choose to sell out. I am reminded of Judas who, for thirty pieces of silver, decided to sell out. The term sell out refers to the compromising of one’s integrity, morality, and principles in exchange for money, success, or personal gain. Many teens and young adults are compromising their character and conviction for the sake of convenience and comfort. Are you selling out in any of the areas listed above? Instead of being a teen and/or young adult who sells out, be a young person who is sold out for God.
