Mentoring Youth: Six Hours One Friday for Youth

Was Reading "Six Hours One Friday" written by Max Lucado.

In it he says...

"Six hours. One Friday.

Let me ask you a question: What do you do with that day in history? What do you do with its claims?

If it really happened...if God did commandeer his own crucifixion...if he did turn his back on his own son...if he did storm Satan's gate, then those 6 hours that Friday were packed with tragic triumph. If that was God on that cross, then the hill called Skull is granite studded with stakes to which you can anchor.

Those 6 hours were no normal 6 hours. They were the most critical hours in history. For during those 6 hours on that Friday, God embedded in the earth 3 anchor points sturdy enough to withstand any hurricane.

Anchor point #1 - My life is not futile. This rock secures the hull of your heart. Its sole function is to give you something which you can grip when facing the surging tides of futility and relativism. It's a firm grasp on the conviction that there is truth. Someone is in control and you have a purpose.

Anchor point #2 - My failures are not fatal. It's not that he loves what you did, but he loves who you are. You are his. The one who has the right to condemn you provided the way to acquit you. You make mistakes. God doesn't. And he made you.

Anchor point #3 - My death is not final. There is one more stone to which you should tie. It's large. It's round. And it's heavy. It blocked the door of a grave. It wasn't big enough though. The tomb that it sealed was the tomb of a transient. He only went in to prove he could come out. And on the way out he took the stone with him and turned it into an anchor point. He dropped it deep into the uncharted waters of death. Tie to his rock and the typhoon of the tomb becomes a spring breeze on Easter Sunday.

There they are. Three anchor points. The anchor points of the cross.

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I think all three of these have powerful lessons for our youth.

Life is not futile. Everyone seems to be looking for gloom on the horizon. The economy is on edge. Jobs are uncertain. The future looks difficult. And in this uncertain time, many youth are also uncertain of themselves. They wonder why they are here. Is there a reason for them to be here? Is there meaning in life.

Failures are not fatal. Youth make mistakes. We all do. It's not making the mistake that is important, but learning from the mistakes we make. God has forgiven those mistakes and even the willful choices. Forgiveness is there for the asking. When youth fall, they need to get up, grab the hand of Jesus and keep moving forward .

Death is not final. That is powerful. Youth aren't often concerned with death. But knowing that there is more beyond this life is important. That out time here is momentary compared to eternity. So with youthful zeal, make every moment count.

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