I said YES!

I was recently asked if I really thought that junior high students were mature enough to handle making choices.  Let me be clear with you all.  My answer was YES!

Here is what I was asked, “Do you really think a junior high student can make the choice to follow Jesus for the rest of their life?”

Let me tell you what I told this man.

Our junior high students have to make life-altering decisions everyday.  Our students have to choose to cheat or not cheat, lie or not lie, do drugs or say no to drugs, try smoking or say no, set boundaries with boyfriends/girlfriends or just do it.   These are just some of the choices our students have to make.

We also have students that have to make choices about how they will help care for their brothers and sisters.  We have students who have to choose what to do when mom or dad comes home drunk or wasted again.  We also have students who have to find a way to bring an income into their house.

These aren’t all things our students should have to make choices about, but in reality they are forced to because of the bad choices of others.

Our students are at a point in their life where they have to make a lot of choices, and the choice to follow Jesus is the most important of them all.  If you have a junior high student that wants to make this decision then you need to help them in every way you can.  Answer their questions.  Show them scripture.  Teach them how to follow Jesus.

If they truly make this choice in their heart at this age then it can change the rest of their life.  Walking with Jesus isn’t just for adults.

Encourage your students to follow Jesus when the time is right, and that time just might be right now!