Photo courtesy cdc.gov
The teenage years are very hard. This is especially true when it comes to understanding relationships. That’s why it’s so important to understand what God teaches us about marriage. The principles summarized in Eph. 5:31 are an excellent guide for teen relationships. Recall that God says, “… a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” God’s teaching us that a husband and wife must love sacrificially, unconditionally and incarnationally (in the flesh).
The same is true for teens. To have good relationships with others, especially the opposite sex, teens must SACRIFICE their own selfish desires. It’s NOT just about ME! They must also make a decision to love others UNCONDITIONALLY. Don’t just care for others when they make you FEEL good. Choose to care for them even when they hurt you … and they will. Finally, have proper respect for the PHYSICAL well-being of others. This requires us to remember that God designed our bodies to be used in HIS way. This is especially true with sex. When sex is reserved to be shared with a marriage partner of the opposite sex, things work out beautifully. When God’s way is ignored, things get all messed up. Mistakes in this area as a teenager can mess up the rest of your life.
God IS an excellent guide for teens as they seek to have good relationships. God’s teachings are summarized well as we understand the concepts of SACRIFICIAL, UNCONDITIONAL and INCARNATIONAL LOVE in HIS WAY. Most of all, love in God’s way is rooted in the love that Jesus has for us. This means that even teenagers can be forgiven by Jesus when they mess up in their relationships. They have a fresh start in Christ. Now THAT’S a source of real hope.
Many of the next blog entries will focus on these concepts in greater detail. Great things are in store when we live Teen Life in God’s Way.