Ten Commandments for Teenagers
I recently ran across an excellent bulletin article entitled: "Ten Commandments for Teenagers" (the author's name was not given). I'd like to share these ten points of practical advice with you as well as some Scriptures to support each point. Although these words are geared toward teenagers, many of them are relevant regardless of age. I have annotated certain points for further elaboration.

1. Don't let your parents down; they brought you up.
Ephesians 6:1-4 - "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother,' which is the first commandment with promise: 'that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.' And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord."

2. Be humble enough to obey; you may give orders some day.
Matthew 23:11,12 - "But he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted."

3. Choose companions with care; you may become what they are.
I Corinthians 15:33 - "Do not be deceived: 'Evil companions corrupt good habits.'" Many Christians have left the pathway of faithfulness after choosing evil companions and allowing themselves to be gradually corrupted.

4. Choose only a date who would make a good mate.
If a certain person won't help you on your journey to heaven, then you really shouldn't consider dating them seriously. Colossians 3:1 teaches - "If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God." Let us seek God's kingdom first when we choose whom we will date.

5. Guard your thoughts; what you think, you are.
Proverbs 23:7 - "For as he thinks in his heart, so is he..." A pure heart is the key to a pure life.

6. Be master of your habits or they will master you.
Romans 6:16 - "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?" Anything can become your master if you will let it; make sure that God is your Master and that your habits are righteous.

7. Don't be a show-off when you drive; drive with safety so you arrive.
Proverbs 16:18 - "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall" (or a crash or a ticket!).

8. Don't let the crowd pressure you into doing something wrong.
Stand for what you know is right, regardless of how many people oppose you. Exodus 23:2 declares - "You shall not follow a crowd to do evil; nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after many to pervert justice."

9. Go to church services faithfully.
Make sure your first steps each week take you to a congregation of faithful Christians who are striving to serve the Lord to the best of their ability. Hebrews 10:24,25 - "And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching."

10. To Christ always be true; He gave His all for you.
Titus 2:11-14 - "For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."