“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
This week’s writing focuses on young people. We sometimes forget that God has work for children and youth to do too. We tend to think that only seasoned adult Christians can be leaders or set good examples.
But in Paul’s letter to Timothy, his young protege’, we see that the opposite can be true. Timothy was sent to Ephesus to continue the work of spreading the gospel. Timothy was probably a teenager at the time and was given the responsibility of instructing believers in how they should live. He likely met with some resistance from some that thought him too young and inexperienced to be giving such instructions.
But the Apostle Paul encouraged Timothy. He prayed for him, and gave him Godly advice and reassurance. Paul’s words surely gave Timothy the confidence that God was leading him and the perseverance he needed to face controversy and to be bold in his witness. God chose Timothy to be a leader in the early church and He used Paul to nurture him.
We, too, can be like Paul and encourage the children and youth in our lives to follow the path that God has for them. The knowledge that God has bestowed upon us can be shared to help the younger generation as they find their way to God. We can encourage them as they take those first steps of faith, we can nurture and love them. Most of all, we can pray for them.
God has wonderful plans for all of us! Young and old alike have work to do for the Lord and it is all important to God.