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Putting in a Good Word – Today’s Youth Devotion

Putting in a Good Word

Bible Reading: 1 Peter 2:9-12

You are a chosen people, … that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9, NIV

YOU KNOW God expects you to pray that he would use you to tell your non-Christian friends about him. But what if God answers your prayer?

God won’t leave you dangling. When he opens up opportunities to share the Good News, here are some helpful tips:

  1. Seize the opportunity confidently. Don’t be afraid. God has prepared you and your friends for this moment. They need what you have to share.
  2. Be friendly but firm. Share what Christ has done in your life and explain what he can do in their lives. Tell it the way it is, but with care and respect.
  3. Talk their language. Don’t switch into Christian jargon. Put the gospel in language your friends understand-without losing anything in the translation.
  4. Use a simple step-by-step approach. How much of the gospel do your friends need to know before they can make a decision to trust Christ? Not very much, since the gospel is simple. One good way to present the basic gospel message and ask for a response is in the booklet “Would You Like to Know God Personally?” [free download], which you can purchase at your local Christian bookstore.

At some point when you present the Good News, you should briefly tell the story of your own relationship with Christ. Think through your story ahead of time. An effective personal story-or “testimony”-has three parts:

  1. What you were like before you trusted Christ. Briefly describe your life before you trusted Christ. What was the focus of your life?
  2. How you trusted Christ. Briefly tell what led you to trust Christ. When did you first understand the Good News? Why did you decide to trust Christ?
  3. What you have been like after trusting Christ. What difference has Christ made in your life? What does Christ mean to you now?

As you prepare your testimony, don’t juice up the facts or glorify a gory, sinful past to make your story more exciting. Scrap the Christian jargon. And make your focus your personal relationship with Christ-not your church or youth group.

REFLECT: Write a first draft of your testimony. Share it with a Christian friend and have him or her suggest how you could make it clearer and more relevant.

PRAY: Ask God to guide you as you prepare a testimony for your friends.