The Best Daily Practice for any Young Person

“Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto
according to thy word.” -Psalm 119:9

The Federal Bureau of Prisons regulations state that all reading materials may be
rejected by a state prison if they are found to be "detrimental to the security, good
order, or discipline of the institution or if it might facilitate criminal activity." Many
state prisons have banned any periodicals or magazines with nude content such as
underwear or swimsuits, and consider all books aside from the Bible to be contraband.
In fact, the state of Illinois penal code requires the state to provide a Bible for every
inmate. Of course, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has launched its attack
against the decisions of any state department of corrections that chooses to enact
such policies claiming it to be “unconstitutional.” How interesting that man has
removed the Bible from learning institutions, but demands its presence in
correctional institutions. Truly, the Bible is the remedy for every plague brought upon
man by sin, but God’s Word is also suited to prevent certain issues that would
otherwise harm us.

Every young person must be engaged in the daily reading of the Word of God. Just as
the human body will shrivel and die without the proper intake of food and water, so
the spirit of man will starve without dining on Scripture. There is not a nobler quest
for a young person than that of routinely studying the Bible, and yet there is no other
desire that is met with greater opposition. The trap of the Devil is to distract our youth
from the Word of God. Sadly, the youth of our generation do not lack information, but
it is an inclination found in short supply. Who is responsible for encouraging our
children to read God’s Word? If we leave this duty to the state, our kids will never own
a Bible. If we leave this responsibility to the child, our kids may only own a copy of the
Bible so that they have something to carry into the church house on Sundays. But, if
each parent were to fulfill their God-given obligation, our children will be trained by
our example and taught from our mouths the eternal riches of God as expressed to
man in His Word. “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17).