On April 20th 1999, at around 11:30 in the morning, Eric Harris
and Dylan Klebold walked into Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. They had pipe bombs and at least seven guns. They murdered ten of their classmates and a teacher before killing them-selves. Two were killed because they were athletes, one because he was black. They killed 17-year-old Rachel Scott simply because she had a Bible. They mocked 18-year-old Valeen Schnurr for believing in Christ, and when she tried to tell them that they would be able to stop killing if they too believed, they left her with permanent nerve damage from nine wounds. The 17-year-old Kacey Ruegsegger survived after being shot in the face and shoulder for being a believer. And then at last they reached a 17-year-old girl girl named Cassie Bernall. They put a gun to her head and asked, "Do you believe in God?" She paused for a second, and then she said, "Yes." Staring at her, the gunman asked, "Why?" Before she could answer, he pulled the trigger and shot her, killing her instantly.
Her death has sparked a spiritual revival among youth all over America. Four days after her death 73,000 teenagers met in Michigan and remembered her. As a result of this tragedy, many young people have come to know the Lord Jesus Christ. She has become an example, a role model for many young people.
God uses young people. God uses teenagers. John Calvin was a pastor at 17. George Whitfield was preaching to great crowds by the time he was 21. Charles Spurgeon was a famous pulpit orator when he was only 16, and became pastor of the great Metropolitan Tabernacle in London at age 20.
In Scripture the apostle Paul met a young man and asked him to join him when he was on his second missionary journey (Acts 16:1-3). This young man was probably in his late teens. He was the son of a Jewish woman (Eunice) who was a believer (as was his grandmother Lois, 2 Timothy 1:5), but his father was a Greek and was not a Christian. Do you know who he was? He must have been quite young. Over 15 years later Paul says to him
"let no one despise your youth." His name was ... Timothy. Let's look together at 1 Timothy 4:12. It says,
1 Timothy 4:12 |
"Let no one despise your youth but be an example of the believers in word, in lifestyle, in spirit, in faith and in purity."
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If someone is young and wants to serve God and people say "You're too young, you're not ordained, you haven't finished seminary yet, you're just a chundosa, a youth pastor." If people say that, how should you respond? Timothy had a similar problem. This verse says "Let no man despise your youth but ..." and then it tells us what to do. The Phillips translation says "Don't let people look down on your because you are young ... see that they look up to you ..." and then tells how to respond.
We are to "be an example." The word "example" is the Greek word tupos, which means "model," "image" or "pattern." A dressmaker lays a pattern on top of material and cuts the material to match the pattern. When you set an example you are giving people a pattern, a role model to follow. Young people, like Timothy are to be an example. How are we to do this.
1. IN WORD
Even though you are young, if you are a good example in what you say both publicly and privately. If you are honest in what you say, if you do not use bad words, bad language, if you are kind in what you say, if you do not gossip, if you are wise in what you say, if you do not complain, then others will not look down on you because you are too young they will look up to you because you are a good example with your tongue.
2. IN LIFESTYLE
Even though you are young, if you are a good example in what you do, your conduct and lifestyle, if you are mature and wise in how you live your life, if you have godly friends then others will not look down on you because you are too young they will look up to you because you are a good example with your life.
3. IN LOVE
Even though you are young, if you are a good example in how you love others, if you show compassion for others, if you love God with all your heart and love your neighbor as yourself, if people know you really care about them, then others will not look down on you because you are too young they will look up to you because you are a good example of one who loves God and others.
4. IN FAITH
Even though you're young, if you are a good example by trusting "In the Lord with all your heart" and leaning "not on your own under-standing," if you pray often, and trust God often, if you are faithful to your commitments and promises, if you do this faithfully and continually, then others will not look down on you because you are too young they will look up to you because you are trustworthy and consistent.
5. IN PURITY
Many young pastors have fallen because of impurity. Even though you're young, if you're a good example by keeping yourself pure, if you stay pure until you're married, if you do not flirt with other women who are not your wife, if you are sincere and have a pure heart then others will not look down on you because you are too young they will look up to you because you are a good, clean, pure example.
If you are young and feel you are not respected, if you feel like people look down on you because of your age, this passage written to Timothy is for you. God uses young people. God uses teenagers. God used 17-year-old Cassie Bernall. And God can use you. "Let no one despise your youth but be an example of the believers in word, in lifestyle, in love, in faith and in purity."
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by Steve Nicholes
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LINKS TO . . .
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