Years ago, when I was a student deaconess serving a new church on the Canadian prairies, I can remember that the only person who had grey hair was the organist. Now, I look around in church, and most people have grey hair. I am saddened to see no young people attending. Do you see this happening around you today? Fortunately, there are many churches that are filled with young people.

Sadly, many youth who were raised in church have split from Christianity and church life. I wonder if they feel that the Christian faith is not meaningful to them. It may be that they went to church only because their parents did. They don't have a first-hand faith — it is not personal. Jesus is just a name. He has no deep significance to them.

Only prayer can bring the Christian faith alive in an unbelieving heart. Are you praying for your young people — or is it our own hearts that need to change?

Another possible reason for a lack of interest in Jesus is that activities once considered sins are becoming increasingly acceptable in society — but not to Jesus, Who said,

Mark 7:21-22 – For it is from within, out of a person's heart, that evil thoughts come — sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. (NIV 2011)

Doesn't this describe our society today? As I watch the television, I am shocked at how these faults show up among the youth of today. Our society is becoming more evil and thoughtless, and the youth do their own thing. Many are not the least concerned about church. Paul describes what will happen in "the last days":

2 Timothy 3:2-5a – People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power. (NIV)

Sadly, this does describe our modern society. We need to pray for our young people — and all of us — for we live in an evil world. Is your church reaching out to those who are lost and alone?

We need to ask God to show us a way to reach out to our families and friends for Christ, for what is missing is the love of God shared among all, with Jesus' hand on them blessing them with His love.

Prayer: Dear Lord, we are very concerned about our families and the whole of society. We ask for Your Spirit to come into our lives as we share with our children and grandchildren. Speak to them of Your love through us. Lord, we love You. May Your love so spread through our community that our youth will be touched by Your loving Spirit. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

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