This last Wednesday night, the topic was the last of a series of questions that I was answering in youth group. The specific question was the most important of them all–Did Jesus really rise from the dead? I began the night by saying, "How you answer this question will affect every aspect of your life–how you spend your money, treat other people, vote, and so on." So I went through the talk and gave some reasons, historical probabilities that point to Jesus rising from the dead. Kids were a little crazy because it was the first week that it stayed lighter later and other stuff, but for the most part it was like any other week. Some good, some bad mixed in all together.

Afterwords though, I led one of the discussion groups. As I asked questions of some of the students, some of them didn't even know what the word resurrection meant, let alone have any idea for the implication on their lives. It hit me. It hit me hard. I grew up in a great family where we talked all the time about spiritual things and the story of Jesus. But these kids don't even know that they are lost. They have no clue about the good news of Jesus, but they don't even know that the life they are living can be so much better. They're just clueless. It's sad to me. But it reminds me of the enormous responsibility to tell truth about Christ. How do I convey a message to people who not only don't want it, but they don't know anything about it?

I'm just as bad as they are without Jesus, but I know what it is to live with him. I guess that's part of the answer. Just telling my story and letting the Spirit work. I need him now more than ever. I know I can't do it alone. I think people are convinced of truth in a rational way, but I know that something has to happen through the work of the Spirit. I can only pray that the Spirit will work.

Anyway, I'm just one ragamuffin who needs a whole lot of saving myself. Times like these remind me of that. Just because I know a message about Jesus does not make me a better person, it just makes me more fortunate. I have a responsibility to proclaim this message boldly and clearly as I should.