“If anyone obeys his word, love for God is truly made complete in them. This is how we know we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him must live as Jesus did.”
— 1 John 2:5 – 6
You remember the summer you accepted Jesus as your savior in vacation Bible school, along with your two best friends. You attended Sunday school together for years. But now that you’re in middle school, you find excuses not to go. You stop reading your Bible. You want to see movies that your new friends see, so you begin sneaking out and lying about where you go. Your parents don’t trust the kids you now want to hang out with, so you lie about that too. If anyone pins you down about your relationship with Jesus, you always say, “Oh, yeah, I’m a Christian.” But you know your behavior says otherwise.
Many inside and outside the church claim to love God. But do they pass the test? Be sure that if you say you’re a follower of Jesus that you actually have the desire to follow him and grow in your relationship with him. And choose your friends accordingly. You can’t — and shouldn’t — judge whether someone is saved or not, but a person’s lifestyle can be one good indication. Choose friends whose actions match what they say they believe.
More To Explore: John 15:4 – 5
Girl Talk: Think of your actions the last few weeks. Would God say that you obey him? Why or why not?
God Talk: “Lord, my actions don’t always match what I say I believe. I want to follow you every day, not rely on myself or others. Please help me do that. Amen.”
From Shine On, Girl! by Kristi Holl