Living for Jesus in High School

The following is an article a student of mine wrote for the churches monthly newsletter. I thought it was good enough to reprint here. Andrea shares some pretty good insights and observations…

Living for Jesus in High School

Recently, I took a test on prepositional phrases. I still don’t know exactly what they are, even though I aced the test, but soon after I was read this verse “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31) So I thought to myself, “How can I take tests and other school work for the glory of God?”

I think that the application of this verse isn’t just in what I say or do, but more in how I do it. For example, instead of sleeping in class, I should pay attention and work hard. I need try to keep my moral standards high, even when it seems like the entire student body is involved in “questionable activities.” I need to be nice to the nerds. I need to be positive, but not fake. These are difficult things to consistently do, and anyone who knows me can see my struggle, and keeping to these standards involves a lot of prayer, reflection, and relying in my relationship with God.

Lots of times, I think that it would be so much easier to just stop being Christian for a week. I could relax with my friends at an R-rated movie; laugh at their dirty jokes, and talk any way I wanted. If I were able to do that I wouldn’t get that guilty feeling when I know I should speak up about my faith, but I don’t. So, if it’s so much easier to not be a Christian, why do it?

I can’t answer that for you. But for me, as difficult as the going gets, I know that no matter how attractive their lives may be, my friends are not happy. They are atheistic, agnostic, New Agers, self-reliant, homosexual, immodest, conspiracy theorists and live very liberal lifestyles. When they are honest about it, they are also dissatisfied with life and looking for answers. I know the answers they are looking for could be found in Jesus, and they know I know Jesus, so they are watching me closely. They are watching to see if my faith is real, to see if it really does make a difference in my person’s life.

Living for Jesus in my high school doesn’t always mean that I need to preach the gospel at every turn. It means that I need to conduct my life according to Biblical standards. I need to do everything to the best of my ability. I need to let God take control of every part of my life not only because those decisions are pleasing to God, but also because my friends are watching me.