Time for your monthly poll!

Perhaps you noticed the rather peculiar article in this month's ec about the 14-year-old police impersonator. (If not, it's on page 38.) We'd like to think this guy was very mature-looking for his age. So in light of his little foray into the police department, we'd like to know how old people think you are!



We realize that it's not just about how you look that determines how old people think you are, either. If you consistently find yourself wondering why your parents, teachers, or other authorities treat you like a kid, it might be because you're acting like one. Now, there's no point in acting all grown-up when you should be enjoying your teenage years, but if you're looking for a little more respect from adults—and your peers!—here are a few things you can do:

1. Think about what you're going to say before you say it. Then think about how you'd respond if someone said it to you. (Handling conversations well is a big mark of maturity.)
2. Recognize that what you do makes an even bigger impact than what you say. Today's devotion deals with casting shadows on Christ. Are you living out your faith, or just talking about church and what a good Christian you are?
3. Look for ways to serve. (There's an awesome article on page 16 about loving others by serving them.) Don't just go on the "fun" youth trips; take time this summer to go on the mission trips or service projects too. Help your youth minister or small group leader to plan some service activities in your community. (We’d love it if you’d leave a comment below with ways you serve. Other readers might be inspired by you!)

No matter how mature other people think you are, if you do those things, you'll definitely start to look a little more like Jesus to everyone you encounter. And isn't that the point?

No one should despise your youth; instead, you should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. —1 Timothy 4:12