Category: Just for Youth

by: Shannon Foote

Many young people have received lectures from their parents about earning privileges? They might say something like, “When you show some responsibility, you might be allowed certain opportunities.” These privileges would be made permissible after we had proven ourselves. Perhaps it could be as simple as going to an event or to a friend’s house, or something more significant like using the car. I would like to show you from the Bible how God gives this same opportunity to those who are His children. Accepting Christ as Saviour is free and is available to everyone, but God’s blessings are not free, though they are readily available.

A few years ago there was a young man who played for LSU who made more than his fair share of headlines both on and off the football field. I would like to take a moment to refresh our memories about Mr. Mathieu’s story, and explore the idea of learning from his experience. On Friday, August 10, 2012, LSU Coach Les Miles made the announcement of the dismissal of LSU football star Tyrann Mathieu. Mathieu was a college sensation who was nicknamed “The Honey Badger” during the Tigers 13-0 run to the BCS championship game in the 2011-2012 season. He regularly made big plays on defense, including two fumble returns for touchdowns, and had two punt returns for touchdowns late in the season. But the 5-feet-9, 175-pound Mathieu also ran afoul of a drug issue with two teammates last season. Mathieu, running back Spencer Ware and cornerback Tharold Simon were suspended for the Auburn game after testing positive for synthetic marijuana. Mathieu, who would have been a junior this season, was likely destined to skip his senior season and apply to the NFL draft in April 2013. In two seasons, the New Orleans native and St. Augustine alum played in 26 games and recorded 133 tackles with 16 for loss and four interceptions. He holds the LSU career record for forced fumbles with 11 and is third in recoveries with eight. He also averaged 15.6 yards on 27 punt returns. He paired with Morris Claiborne to become the first teammates named All American at cornerback by the Associated Press. The legend of the honey badger grew throughout the year and climaxed when he electrified Tiger Stadium with a 92-yard, game-changing punt return for a touchdown to help beat Arkansas, while playing safety for the first time. The next week, he scored on a 62-yard punt return and set up another touchdown with a 47-yarder as LSU rallied past Georgia. He was SEC Defensive Player of the Year and captured the “Chuck Bednarik Award” as the top defensive player in the nation. He finished fifth in the Heisman balloting and garnered 34 first-place votes. Now his options are more limited. He would have to sit out if he transfers to a Football Bowl Subdivision (1-A) team, but could play immediately if he is accepted as a transfer at a Football Championship Subdivision (1-AA) school or lower. (Edited excerpt of Jim Kleinpeter’s report for the Times Picayune)

Regardless of Tyrann’s potential or his ability to make contributions to the team, he was given exactly what his actions had warranted. During the football season he was rewarded for his performance on the field, and during the off-season he learned that there is also a negative side to that very same principle. In Proverbs 3, God breaks down His benefits for us. We are allowed the privilege of deciding what we want out of our lives, and He tells us exactly how we can earn those things. Serving God is not mysterious or complicated; it’s laid out like a formula with a guaranteed outcome. Our heavenly Father keeps this very simple for us. It is cause and effect; your reward or punishment depends on your desires, motives, and actions.

Too often, it seems that young people who have the privilege of being raised in godly homes will convince themselves that people who are without God and are free to make their own choices have an easier life than they do. The Devil enjoys being able to bring a child of God to this discouraged point in their lives. I think of it this way, before we accept Christ as our Saviour, we are like His neighbor’s child. (John 1:12; 8:44) God still loves us, and He would do all He could to keep us from harm. God, as our neighbor, would be willing to give us a ride if we needed one, or maybe, feed us if we were hungry, or buy us a new pair of shoes, but He would not 100% be responsible for our every need. Our parents set the rules for the house and make sure that we go to school and the doctor; they ensure that we brush our teeth and eat right. Sadly, those who have been blessed to become God’s children are filled with envy when He gives that neighbor’s child $20 for something like cutting the grass for Him. We, as His children, have done this time after time and never received $20 for doing that; so, we convince ourselves that God is not being fair to us. We skip right past the duty we have as a child of God to be obedient and submissive. (1 Corinthians 7:23; Ephesians 1:5) What we fail to realize is that God took on complete responsibility for us when He became our Father, and now we have an obligation to serve Him. He meets our every need, (Philippians 4:19) and tells us in His Word exactly what to do to receive the blessings we desire from Him. (Proverbs 3:1-12) The real problem is we want what we cannot have, and that is to live according to the flesh and not the Spirit without consequence!

Remember, there are just rewards for everything we do in this life. We will all enjoy and suffer some of that justice in this life. Let’s decide to learn from the achievements and failures of Tyrann Mathieu, and realize that we will not escape or circumvent this biblical principle. Galatians 6:7, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Shannon Foote
Pastor
Grace Baptist Church
Marrero, LA

by: Andrew Cape

Have you ever wanted something really bad but knew you couldn’t have it?

Several years ago, I worked for a grocery store and one day a lady came through the bakery and I overheard her conversation with her little boy. The little boy saw some glazed doughnuts sitting on a shelf and said to his mother, “Mommy, can I have some of those?” The mother replied with a smile, “Honey, you don’t need those. You’ve had plenty of sweets!”

They continued on with their shopping and soon approached the produce department. Still on the lookout for a treat, the little boy saw some Buddy Fruit pouches sitting in a display and again said to his mother, “Mommy Can I have some of those?”

The mother picked up the Buddy Fruits and read the ingredients on the back. With a smile on her face she smiled and said, “Yes, Honey! How many would you like?”

Immediately I began thinking about our relationship with God. When God speaks to us, He speaks to us through His Word, and we have the privilege of speaking to Him through prayer.

In Luke 1:30 the Bible says, “And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.”

Mary was one of God’s favorites. God had her heart. Mary had kept herself clean and pure for God to use, and when He saw her vessel was clean, He no doubt smiled and said, “I can use Mary!” What an amazing opportunity she had to be the mother of our Saviour, but she would have never been given this privilege had she chosen to live a dirty life over a clean life.

The little boy in the grocery store wasn’t a perfect little boy, but his heart belonged to his mother. Just the fact that he existed no doubt brought joy to her day. Do you realize that God feels the exact same way about you? You are precious to Him! (Psalms 139:17) He longs to give you exactly what you need, but God wants you to have the right desires.

In Psalms 37:4 the Bible says, “Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.”

God never promised to give us everything we ever wanted, but He did promise to supply our needs. He never promised to give us everything we desire, because not all of our desires are healthy. Sometimes He has to pick up the ingredients to see if it’s what we need. So if we earn the favour of God, He will supply our needs.

The problem with God’s people today is they haven’t given their own desires over to Christ. That little boy’s desires were in the hands of his mother. He had no control over the situation, but in the end he was happy because she knew exactly what he needed.

For just a moment, put yourself in that little boys place. How will you respond in the grocery store of life? Here are three ways to get exactly what you need.

First, be patient when things don’t go your way.

God wants us to be patient in our prayer life. Just because we may not receive what we want right away doesn’t mean God won’t give us what we need. I heard it said once that when we pray, God might not answer our prayers exactly the way we want Him to, but when we don’t pray, we don’t even give Him a chance. Be patient, but don’t give up asking. (James 4:2)

Secondly, God wants you to desire the things you need.

Some things in this life are unhealthy for us. Bad eating habits lead to heart attacks, obesity, and in many situations, death. The result of sin will always be death (Proverbs 14:12), and desiring the wrong things spiritually will lead to a malnourished Christian life that will result in spiritual tragedy. God wants you to have things in your life that will benefit you spiritually, such as the Word of God, preaching, and soul winning.

Lastly, and most importantly, continue to make God smile.

One thing I noticed about the mother that day is that she smiled both times after he had asked for things. The reason she could smile is because she still had his heart. Are you living a life that makes God smile? The worst thing I could have ever heard my parents say growing up is that I had disappointed them. I have always wanted to make them proud because they already had my heart.

Is God disappointed in you? Or, does He smile upon your life?

In James 5:16 the Bible says, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” This verse simply means that fervent prayers from righteous people bring about much good. The key word is righteous. When sin enters our life, it hinders us from obtaining what we need.

I pray that it is your desire to become one of God’s favorites. But the truth is, behind every favorite is a smile. So we must learn to please Him first. (Matthew 6:33)

Wouldn’t it be amazing if you found favour in your life with God and grew old dwelling in the will of God? Don’t you long to make God smile? If so, then choose today to be that clean vessel He can use. I promise, you will have no regrets. Keep making God smile!

Andrew Cape
Youth Pastor
Bibleway Baptist Church
Powder Springs, GA

Both of my children left for college in the same year; 2000 miles away. TWO! THOUSAND! MILES! While technology has made the world much smaller, it felt as if I was sending them to another planet. They had attended and graduated from a very small Christian school. Now they were going to a college with a large enrollment. To say there would be a level of culture shock would be a huge understatement. I wanted to give them some level of advice that would help them, though I think it was as much for me as it was for them. I wrote them each a personal letter and gave them a list of “School Supplies” to take with them to college:

EXCITEMENT: Be excited, but also stay excited. It is an amazing time in your life. Don’t let the every-day life of college overshadow the whole experience of these few years.

ENERGY: You are young, so act like it. Don’t fall into ruts. Don’t take for granted all the opportunities that will be offered to you. You won’t have time or money to do everything, but what you decide to do, give it everything you have.

EFFORT: It’s not always going to be easy. Honestly, not much of it will be easy. No matter if it is class work, scholarship work, a job, or a ministry, put your back into it. Don’t just go through the motions. Put effort into everything, even the things that may not seem to need much effort; especially those things.

EFFICIENCY: Learn to manage your time well. It will make or break you. Be organized, live by a schedule. It’s amazing how much time is wasted when you are short on time to begin with.

EXCELLENCE: Be committed to becoming the very best “you” that you can become and that the LORD wants you to become. Do it on purpose. Constantly examine every area of your life and then find ways to improve them. This is the time to determine who you will be. Be excellent.

ENCOURAGEMENT: I promise you, there will be times when you are down. You must learn to encourage yourself. It is then you will be able to encourage others. It is then you will become valuable. If you are unable to find encouragement, then encourage someone else first. You cannot pour encouragement on others without spilling some on yourself.

Lastly, and maybe most importantly:

ENDURANCE: There are probably going to be some times when you really do feel like giving up, or taking the easy road, but it really is true that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy; not just in college, but also in life. Many times you will just have to put your head down and stay after it. Something’s got to give if you stay at it long enough. It’s been said that tough times don’t last, but tough people do. So, no matter what you’re going through, Just keep pressing forward. I promise it will be well worth it.

2 Timothy 2:3-5 says, “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.”

(Author has asked not to be mentioned)

by: John Harris

Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.”

We give the Devil too much credit many times in life’s trials. If something bad happens to us, we are quick to blame Satan.

Job 1:1 says that Job was “perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job was thought of highly in Scripture. He was known as God-fearing.

However, Job 1:8 says, “And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Notice that God pointed Job out. It was God that told Satan that he could do whatever he wished, except to kill Job.

A few verses later we witness Job hitting rock bottom. His land is gone, all of his children are killed, and Job lost everything save his wife. Could you imagine the emotional, spiritual and physical affects that took a toll upon Job.

In chapter 1, Job shows us that proper way to handle trials.

1. Job immediately ran to God.

Verse 20 says, “Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,”

Seems that when we have troubles come our way, we run away from the presence of the Lord. The worse thing to do is to try to go through this battle without walking with the Lord. Think about it like this, troubles will come our way no matter what, but only God can comfort you in a way that no one or nothing else could.

2. Job learned to accept this trial.

Verse 21 says, “And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.”

Notice that even though it was hard to accept it, Job knew what was done was done, and he learned to live with it. It was all in God’s hands.

When I was a freshman in Bible College, I was in a car accident that almost ended my life. At the hospital the doctors found out that my femur shattered. For five weeks, I was in the hospital enduring the emotional and physical stress that was placed upon me.

I now walk with a limp for the rest of my life. Before this accident, I was very active in sports, I loved playing football and baseball, and I was in tournaments for mixed martial arts. I had to accept the fact that those days are over. I can no longer be involved with sports like the way I used to be. I had to accept it and eventually God gave me peace.

3. Job stayed faithful.

Verse 22 says, “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly.”

When we are going through trials, we need to stay faithful to the things of God. When we start looking back, we may turn into a pillar of salt like Lot’s wife. The worse thing we can do is run from God when things are tough. When we turn back, we will blame God when He is proving Himself through us. When we are going through trials, we need to stay in church, continue to pray and read our Bibles, continue to go soul winning, invest in others, tithe, give to missions, and so on. You never know who may be saved because you stayed faithful.

We never know what storms will come our way, but I do know this, I would prefer to go through the storms with God than without Him. The storm will eventually pass over us.

John Harris
Missionary to Belize

by: Jonathan Painter

Proverbs 4:1, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.”

Proverbs 4:1 contains a goal that should be a prevalent part in each of our lives. The goal of Proverbs 4:1 is to obtain understanding. Each of us ought to have a desire to obtain understanding. We ought to strive to attain understanding in our physical, material and spiritual life. One who has a job ought to desire to understand every aspect of their job. One who surrenders to full-time service ought to desire to understand every aspect of the ministry. We ought to desire understanding.

Fortunately, Proverbs 4:1 gives us not only a goal, but also the means of achieving that goal. There are four steps found in this verse that create a road to obtaining understanding.

1. Realize your position. (“Hear, ye children…”)

Webster defined a child as, “One weak in knowledge, experience, judgment, or attainment;” We must realize our true position. Humility is truly the first step in achieving understanding. When we can stop and realize that we are weak in knowledge, it will give us a mindset that is ready to learn. I am afraid that far too often we allow ourselves to think we have more knowledge than we truly have. Once we realize our true position concerning knowledge, we have taken the first step towards achieving understanding.

2. Listen to instruction (Hear…the instruction…”)

All too often we close our ears to instruction because we feel that we already know how to do it. We already know how to live life. We already know all about the ministry. We already know how to be a godly teenager. We already know how to be a good college student. We already know how to be a good spouse. We already know! Therefore, we do not need to listen. This is the wrong attitude for any person to take. When we have the attitude that says, “I already know,” we are limiting our ability to learn more. You will have your mind so set that even when you are wrong, you will not be convinced of what is right, thus suffering the consequences of being wrong. Such an attitude is the result of pride, which the Bible says comes before a fall. Open your mind to instruction. Allow yourself to be taught by those who have more knowledge than yourself. Admit that you truly don’t know it all. When you realize your true position and then listen to instruction, you are well on your way to achieving understanding.

3. Choose Godly Instructors (…the instruction of a father…)

If a child is defined as, “one weak in knowledge,” it is safe to assume “a father” is one who is strong in knowledge. Notice, God didn’t say your father or their father. He said, “a father.” This is not speaking specifically of a parental father, but rather a “father” who has more knowledge than you. Proverbs 4:2 shows us how to discern “a father” from whom it is good to receive instruction. “For I give you good doctrine…” You ought to hear the instruction of a father who will give you good doctrine. Find a mentor who is knowledgeable in good doctrine, and you have found yourself a father who is worthy of your ears. What is good doctrine? Good doctrine comes from the Word of God. Here is an example, When I was in second grade, I had a school teacher who was indeed a very godly woman. I remember many times I broke her rules set for the classroom. She very gently and sincerely would take me outside the classroom, and with her well-used Bible showed me why what I did was wrong. This was a “father” that was giving me good doctrine.

4. Wait for understanding (…attend to know understanding”)

The word “attend” means, among other things, “To await.” You will not achieve understanding overnight. One must wait for understanding. Be patient! Time of receiving instruction and years of the application of instruction will bring you understanding. One who desires understanding must be willing to follow the formula God has laid out. Humble yourself to realize your true position of knowledge. Listen to the instruction given to you from godly sources, and then wait, be patient, endure, and keep learning. One who is willing to follow these steps will achieve understanding, and will someday be a father to whom wise children go to for instruction.

Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln, NE
http://youngpreachersofamerica.com

by: Jonathan Painter

“A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing. For she sitteth at the door of her house, on a seat in the high places of the city, To call passengers who go right on their ways: Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither: and as for him that wanteth understanding, she saith to him, Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he knoweth not that the dead are there; and that her guests are in the depths of hell.” (Proverbs 9:13-18)

The Book of Proverbs is full of examples of the kind of young people we should be as well as the kind of young people we should not be. I would like to introduce you to a woman that no godly young man should ever be interested in dating; a woman that no young lady should ever aspire to become. This woman is not the strange woman of Proverbs 7; rather, the foolish woman of Proverbs 9. I personally believe that the foolish woman is more dangerous than the strange woman. The strange woman is very open and obvious about her agenda from her attire, to her actions, while the foolish woman is more modest and subtle. The strange woman targets those who are already drifting away from what is right and those who are in the wrong place at the wrong time while the foolish woman attempts to attract those who “go right on their way.” The strange woman attempts to specifically snare men, while the foolish woman will prey on men and women alike. We will use God’s Word to help us identify the foolish woman.

1. She is loud (Proverbs 9:13)

The word “clamorous” means loud. The foolish woman is very loud and boisterous. She always has something to say. When I was in Bible college, I used to have a teacher say, “Gentlemen, if you can hear them before you see them, you don’t want to date them.” I would be very careful of a woman who is loud; we often want to excuse it away as “immaturity,” but in reality, it may be an earmark of a foolish woman.

2. She is simple (Proverbs 9:13)

The word “simple” according to the Webster’s 1828 means, “weak in intellect.” The word “intellect” means: the ability to understand. Therefore, one who is simple is weak in the ability to understand. This form of simplicity does not come from birth, as in a special needs individual; rather, by choice through lack of effort. A foolish woman does not understand things because she does not really try to understand. Basically, she lacks the desire for understanding and therefore “knoweth nothing.”

3. She is lazy (Proverbs 9:14)

Notice the first three words if you will, “For she sitteth…” These three words speak volumes about the character of a foolish woman. I have yet to meet the individual who was loud and simple, and who was also a hard worker. There is a distinct contrast between the wise woman and the foolish woman. While we find the foolish woman here sitting, we find the wise woman of Proverbs 14:1 building.

4. She is nosey (Proverbs 9:14)

As if it were not bad enough that the foolish woman just sits, will you notice where she is sitting? She is sitting at the door of her house. She cannot mind her own business. I would worry about a woman who cannot mind her own business. She sits at the door of a text message or a phone call with the ever standing question, “What are you doing right now?” Someone who has to ask multiple people all throughout the day what they are doing is someone who cannot mind their own business. The problem is that the foolish woman does not learn and does not work, so she gets bored and must attempt to engage in idle conversation. Idle conversation often turns to idle gossip over the phone screens and messaging boards of the foolish woman.

5. She is visible (Proverbs 9:14)

Notice, she sits in the high seat of the city. She wants to be visible in order to attract others who are simple, “Whoso is simple, let him turn in hither:” She is out to attract a following. This is one of the most telling marks of a foolish woman. In school, at church, in Bible college, a foolish woman will target new members to the group. She sticks close to these new people unless they are interested in actually understanding something, and then she stops hanging around them to find someone who is simple with no desire to learn. She begins to try to build a following of simple people because it gives her a feeling of accomplishment to lead simple ones. She sees every new person as a potential follower, not a true friend. She would never miss a service; she might miss a potential follower. She would never miss a class; she might miss getting the “first shot” at a new follower. She will not work to build anything of substance, but rather talks to build a following of unspiritual simple people whom she can lead around at will.

6. She is distracting (Proverbs 9:15)

Notice she calls passengers who are minding their own business. She is a distraction to those who would have otherwise kept right on doing what they needed to be doing. They might have kept learning God’s Word and gained understanding, but she distracted them as they went on their way. They might have understood enough to pass their classes and went on to graduate, but she distracted them, and now they have failed. She is a distraction.

7. She will discredit (Proverbs 9:16-17)

She cannot stand those who truly want to accomplish something; they make her uncomfortable. Someone who actually has a desire to do something is a constant reminder to herself that she has truly done nothing. Therefore, she will attempt to snare those who want understanding. We often think of Proverbs 9:17, as a verse describing the loss of purity; however, the context of this passage is not limited to such a sin. The man in verse 16 wants understanding; the foolish woman does not want him to achieve understanding. Proverbs 4:1 teaches us that if we are to achieve understanding, we need to heed goodly counsel from godly authorities. The foolish woman, in an effort to block the achievement of understanding, will try to discredit the counselor and his counsel. After she discredits the counselor and his counsel, she will insert her own counsel which cannot lead to success. She will advise the drinking of stolen waters and the consumption of secret bread. These are underhanded dealings that bring no understanding.

8. She is a spiritual killer (Proverbs 9:18)

She may not take out a knife and literally kill someone, but she does so with her words and actions. She will not physically kill a person, but spiritually kills a soul. She has stolen many hearts; she has sealed many graves. I dare say that all the graveyards in the world could not contain all the dead that she has slain. I have seen the strange woman take out a man, but I have seen the foolish woman take out a church. She is dangerous, she is destructive. Beware of the foolish woman!

Jonathan Painter
Youth Pastor
Lincoln Baptist Church
Lincoln, NE
http://youngpreachersofamerica.com

by: John Harris

1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

The Bible says that the Devil is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. As a hunter, I will dress in a camouflage outfit and at 6 am I will walk through the forest, climb into a tree stand and wait to see a nice whitetail buck.

Typically at sunrise, I will see a buck chasing a doe. Now while that buck is chasing the doe, he does not realize that there is a hunter in the stand waiting for the perfect shot. While he is lusting and so consumed with the doe, he does not realize on a tree stand is a hunter ready kill him. Typically, when a hunter shoots a nice buck, they will sever the head and have the deer head mounted as a symbol of the kill.

The Devil does the same thing. While we are tempted, we do not realize the Devil is out trying to devour us. While we are chasing our lust, the Devil is trying to snare us. The older I get, the more I see how many Christian casualties we have. Many people chase ambitions, sin, money, lusts and many other things that will divert their heart away from God, yet they do not see that the Devil has placed a snare in front of them.

Suddenly, they will start missing church, soul winning, tithing, giving to missions, Bible reading, prayer, compromising Biblical standards, and many other things that please God. They may become bitter, arrogant, prideful, discouraged, and the moment they do the Devil devours them, and they become casualties. Remember we are in a battle.

Through the course of time, the Devil has always used the same tactics. These tactics are the pride of life, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes.

Peter said that we are to be sober and vigilant. We are to be serious in this matter, and we are also to walk circumspectly. We are to walk to avoid the dangers and snares of the Devil. In a day and age where filthiness, lustful things and abominations are everywhere and at our disposal, we are to set our affections on things above. Remember this world is not our home.

I can think of many people who I have rubbed shoulders with who are now trophy mounts on Satan’s wall. The Devil placed snares in front of them, they took the bait and were eventually snagged.

Maybe the Devil is knocking the stuffings out of you. There are two verses that have encouraged me when this is happening. Romans 8:37 says, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.” 1 John 4:4 says, “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.”

Remember we have the Word of God, prayer, and if you are saved, you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. It is possible to live a godly life in an ungodly world. Let us remember to stay the course by reading the Bible daily, pray, attend our local church, stay vigilant, be sober and continue living for God as long as He has us on this Earth.

We have to keep running the race set before us. We may get tired, weary and discouraged, but we need to keep running the narrow path that God has for us. If you fall, stand back up, dust yourself off and start running God’s path for your life once again. The finish line is when God calls you home. Let us finish strong.

John Harris
Missionary to Belize

by: Josh Goddard

1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

The trend of today’s youth is to avoid association with those who are recognized as their leaders and examples. The average teen is constantly reaching out to the hero who is unreachable to them or that is “forbidden” by their authority. The rock star, professional athlete, Hollywood actor or newest MasterChef is the example set up by the modern day teen. The teenager aspires to be like their chosen example and tries their very hardest to reject those who they should be following. The church and parents lift up one set of examples and the world lifts up another. Which one will you choose?

I would like to present that these are not the only two choices. There is a third. Why don’t you become the example? Why can’t the young man or young lady be the one who the professional athlete looks to for an example? Young man, why can’t you be an example of purity to the Hollywood actor? Young lady, why can’t you be the example of love and kindness that the adults around you need to follow? I propose, young people, that you be the example.

Your parents need an example to follow. Your peers need an example to follow. Your “heroes” need an example to follow. Your siblings need an example to follow. Why not be that example? Show the soldier struggling with his marriage that goodness and kindness should be a part of his life. Be the example! Show the college graduate that even though life may be hard you can continue through with a good attitude.

The Bible tells us in 1 Timothy 4:12, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers…” Too often the young man or woman is “despised” because of their age. I say, let’s not give anyone a reason to despise us. You be the hero! You be the one who the adult can look to. Live your life in honor, in decency, and with faithfulness and diligence. You may not have much responsibility, but you can take the things that God has given you and do the best that you can.

1 Samuel 16:17 says, “And Saul said unto his servants, Provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me.”

Saul was not asking for a boy, he was looking for a professional, an example. Who stood out? The youth! It wasn’t the man who had been playing for 30 years. It was the shepherd boy.

Numbers 25:7-8 says, “And when Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose up from among the congregation, and took a javelin in his hand; And he went after the man of Israel into the tent, and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly. So the plague was stayed from the children of Israel.”

When it came time for someone to stand up against the wickedness of a nation, it was not the father, nor the son, but the grandson who set the example and saved a nation.

When Lot and Abraham’s herdsmen were fighting, it should have been Lot who came to Abraham and not the other way around.

It was the Paul’s nephew who showed courage to uncover the plot to slay his uncle.

It was a very young John who had the courage to follow so close behind when Jesus was arrested, that he was almost caught.

Be the example!

You may not be able to be the example in marriage, parenting or athleticism, but you can be the example in the areas that God has given to you.

God tells us in 1 Timothy 4:12, that we are to be the example of the believers in our speech, our manner of living, our good will toward others, our attitude, our faith (belief and trust in the Word of God), and our cleanliness of life. This may seem impossible to you, and you may not even feel like trying, but wait! Not only is it possible for the teenager to be the example, but it is God’s desire that the youth is chosen as the example.

1 Samuel 2:26 says, “And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favour both with the LORD, and also with men.” Wouldn’t you love to be “in favour both with the LORD, and also with men?” Will you be like Samuel and surrender to live a life worth choosing?

Jesus gave us a great guide to follow. John 13:15 says, “For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you.” Jesus showed us how to live. Now the question is, will you be the example that the world and the believers so desperately need to follow?

Josh Goddard
Youth Pastor
Faith Baptist Church
Wildomar, CA

by: John Harris

The aged apostle under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost wrote several books in the New Testament. In this Third Epistle of John, he writes of three separate people. Throughout the scriptures, the Holy Ghost points out the strengths and weaknesses of men and women. If any one of us had an epistle written about us, what would that epistle say? How will the story of our life end? If we had a funeral service for you, how would people remember you?

My mother just passed away this past September, she actually wrote a book about herself so that her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren would remember her. Mom actually said that she wanted to be remembered as a person who was at any special event so that the future generations would remember her as such. As far back as I can remember, she was at every special event. In this book were pictures and documents about her life. It is a very sobering thought.

In this epistle, John dedicated this whole book to three separate people. I wish to briefly look at each one. Two of them he was pleased with and one he was not.

1. Gaius

Verse 5-6, tells us that Gaius was very charitable. He was right there to care for the teachers who were coming to the church to teach. As I travel this great nation, the Lord has allowed churches to be a blessing to our family. We are always thankful for that. If our pastor invites a guest speaker in to teach and preach to us, we are not supposed to push those Christian teachers away. We are supposed to be charitable to them. Gaius was obviously a man of charity and we ought to be known as a people of charity. In a world full of hate, strife, anger and depression, we ought to be the people the world can turn to and show them love. It is very possible to do so without compromise.

2. Diotrephes

Diotrephes was the leader of the church, but he had a bad attitude. Verse 9 says that he wanted to have the preeminence. This a wrong attitude because the Bible says that Christ is supposed to have the preeminence. Diotrephes’ desire to have the preeminence was a form of pride. Verse 9 shows that he said malicious words to them, and he eventually tried to cast them out of the church.

I am very weary of people who will use malicious words towards men and women of old, people who gave themselves so that the Gospel could move forward. People who for decades worked and toiled in the fields now are often mocked by modern day Diotrephes’. As a college student, I rarely surrounded myself with younger students. I made sure that I was around older men so that I could gain their wisdom. I did not worship them; I understood that at best they were human, but they were further down the road than me.

As a college student, I met my dear friend, Dr. Steve Heidenreich. Dr. Heidenreich became a mentor to me. I wanted to become his Timothy because Dr. Heidenreich built a successful work in the Philippines, and he is yielded to the Holy Spirit. I did not worship him, but he became a hero of mine, and after all the years that we have known each other he is still one of my heroes. Even today I ask him questions and I pick his brain. Not because I am foolish, but because he has wisdom from which I could benefit. Pastor Gary Dice is my pastor. I am almost 39 years old, but I still seek my pastor’s counsel because he is further down the road than me.

We will become who we choose to follow. By the way, the person who Diotrephes turned away was John. This is the same John who walked with Jesus during His earthly ministry. This is the same John who placed his head on the breast of Jesus, saw Him crucified, saw Him risen from the dead, and saw Him perform many miracles. How could he not want to learn from John? Today we have seen God use many men and women of yesteryear. We have seen them build great churches, not just numerically, but spiritually. My question is how could we not want to learn from them? Have we become that arrogant and prideful?

Our elders, preachers and teachers of yesteryear are now the subjects of ridicule, and it disturbs me. We live in a society where they would love to turn the elders away. They are often treated as incompetent, but the truth is that while we still have them we should pick their brains. Diotrephes was a leader of the church and he was very prideful; but he turned away Christian teachers because it wasn’t about him. He wanted it to be about him. Let me remind you that it is not all about us. We are supposed to lift Christ up and make it about Him. I hear a trend that says, “I follow God not men.” That sounds fine, but God puts authorities in our life who we are to follow. As a missionary, I am sent out of a local church. I am under the authority of my pastor and church. I am accountable to them! We are not following God if we are not following the authority God places in our path.

3. Demetrius

Verse 12 says that he had a good report among all men. Demetrius had a good testimony. Let this be a lesson to us. We should protect our testimony. Remember in Acts 11 where the church was first called Christians in Antioch? They never called themselves Christians, but the people saw something different about them. Their testimony was so respected that the world called them Christians. When the world looks at us, do they look at us as Christians? Can they tell the difference between our churches and a rock concert?

I believe every Christian ought to be separated. I believe a Christian ought to act different, dress different, talk different, be friendly, not compromise biblical principles, walk circumspectly, hate sin, love God, be compassionate, witness and love people. People should look at us and want Who we have. Demetrius had a good report. Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:2, “Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:” We are epistles to be known and read of all men. Sometimes people will be saved because they observed you and they wanted Who you have. When we become a bad testimony, we will turn people away from becoming a saved person. People watch how we treat each others. John 13:35 says, “By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye love one to another.” Some people may not come to know Christ by the way we treat each other.

My question for you is this, if an epistle was written about you or if your life was part of an epistle, what would it say? Remember David was called a man after God’s own heart even though he committed adultery with Bathsheba. He asked God to restore him and moved forward. Even after all the good that he had done, we still remember that David sinned with Bathsheba. Your story does not end until God calls you home. The rest of your story has not yet been told. You can still make amends, break the chains of addiction, restore fellowship with God, be forgiven, rid yourself of bitterness, humble yourself or fix anything else that is keeping you from experiencing the true joy of being saved.

John Harris
Missionary to Belize