Scott opens his eyes and squints. Light is streaming through the blinds of his bedroom window. It’s morning—Monday morning, a school day. It’s time to start another week of hectic routines: homework, exams, football, youth group.
But instead of burying his head in a pillow and groaning or pleading for his mom to allow him another minute of sleep, the 16-year-old from Redding, Calif., feels different today. He’s strangely energized, freed from Satan’s strongholds; he’s ready to embrace a new day—a new direction for his life.
Scott throws off the covers and sits up. A verse he studied in Sunday night Bible study races through his mind, reminding him of a sacred vow he had made: “For the eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him” (2 Chronicles 16:9).
Lord, I mean what I promised: It’s all or nothing, he prays silently. No more going through the motions. No more living for myself. I want to be your servant, a man whose heart is fully committed to you. Give me the strength to start fresh. Give me the courage to follow in Your footsteps.
Scott learned from his youth pastor that God is most interested in the condition of a young man’s heart. “In Acts 13:22, the Lord described David as a man after His own heart, someone who will ‘do everything I want him to do,’ ” his pastor had explained. “Can God count on you? Are you such a man?”
The questions pierced deep into Scott’s own heart. Right there, in the middle of the Bible study, he fell to his knees in prayer—confessing his sins and vowing to be God’s warrior. “Lord, my life is not right with You, but I want it to be,” he said, tears rolling down his cheeks. “I’m sorry for my sins. My heart has been so clouded with pride that I’ve disobeyed my parents, and I’ve been a poor example to my brother and my friends. . . .”
When Scott finished praying, the other five guys in the group followed his lead, forming a football-style huddle and confessing their sins, too.
A short time later, the pastor began to read from Philippians 2:5-11: “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. . . .”
With arms still linked and heads bowed, the guys reflected on every word. The passage had become their creed—an example of Christ’s radical love and humility that would transform their hearts.
Twenty-four hours later, Scott knows that the first steps he must make involve setting things straight with the most important people in his life:
His Parents:
“Mom, Dad—I love you so much,” he tells them at the breakfast table. “I’m sorry for never saying those words and for giving you a hard time. I’m sorry for being so prideful. I really want to be different.”
Scott’s mom reaches over and feels his forehead. “Honey, are feeling OK today?”
The teen cracks a smile. “Better than ever!”
His Brother:
Scott glances at his younger brother—who suddenly chokes on a big gulp of orange juice. “Stay back,” blurts his brother. “I don’t want to catch whatever you have!”
“Actually, you need to,” Scott laughs. “God is doing something really cool in my heart, and I hope it’s contagious. I want to be there for you. I hope the Lord touches your life through me.”
His Girlfriend:
Before classes start, Scott pulls his girlfriend aside and takes her hand. “I’m so sorry,” he says.
“For what?” she asks. “You haven’t done anything wrong.”
“I have taken for granted the amazing person God created you to be,” he explains. “All this time, I’ve been so selfish. Even though I tell you that I love you, my heart has been so impure. Whenever I look at you, I only think of myself—how much you please me.”
Scott leans closer and kisses her forehead. “I care deeply about you, which is why things have to be different now. Our love has to be real. We have to put God first, then each other. We have to make a commitment to purity.”
His girlfriend nods her head and smiles.
His Best Friends:
“Football, parties and popularity don’t matter to me anymore,” Scott tells two of his football buddies. “Only one thing counts in life: Committing our hearts to Jesus and living for Him.”
Then Scott does something his friends will never forget: He hugs them both, looks them in the eyes and says, “I love you.”
One of Scott’s friends speaks up: “I have to ask you something,” he says. “Is this a ‘God thing’?”
“Yes,” Scott says, “it’s definitely a God thing.”
Instead of thinking Scott had gone off the deep end mentally, his buddies actually begin respecting him.
His Football Coach:
Next, Scott quits the football team at the high school where he attends.
“Frankly, I’m shocked by your decision,” says Scott’s coach, ”Why?“
“Because I need to use the time I spend practicing getting closer to God.”
• • •
In the days that followed, Scott was never seen at school without his Bible. And he was always decked out in blue jeans and a white T-shirt. He told everyone he met, “White stands for purity.”
Scott was determined to give up phoniness. He set out to live Philippians 2:3 “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.”
Above all, Scott desperately wanted to be the kind of Christ-built warrior his pastor had described: “Your character is who you are when no one is looking and what you are willing to stand for when someone is looking. A true man of God desires to obey his Creator with all his heart, mind and soul.”
Scott’s first steps involved stomping out pride and following Christ’s example of humility. His decision, and the choices he made, profoundly influenced those around him.
Pride and selfishness struggle desperately to elbow humility and purity out of our lives. While no one has escaped its grip, not many guys have the guts to be like Scott—freely admitting that they are guilty of this sin.
Are you ready to follow Scott’s example and stomp out pride? 
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TRUTH SOURCE
Read about other young men who have taken a stand for purity and holiness. Get this book from Breakaway. TRIBE: A Warrior’s Battles by Michael Ross and Manfred Koehler |
