Where has the Summer gone? It seems like just yesterday school was ending, the days were very long, and the temperatures were hot and humid. Now Fall is very much in the air. We have had a wonderful year thus far at Liberty. As we enter into the Fall months, keep in mind that we will be hosting the Jackson County 4th Sunday Singing on October 22nd at 2 o’clock that afternoon. Please put this date on your calendars as it will be a great opportunity to fellowship with others in the community!!
On numerous occasions, the apostle Paul went out of his way to encourage younger Christians. In our New Testament we have three examples of this in letters to Timothy and Titus. Timothy was a young man that was half Jew and half Greek (Gentile). Titus was a Gentile from the island of Crete, which is near Greece. Paul had met these two young men during his missionary journeys and they had become vital parts of his ministry. Timothy became a preacher at Ephesus, while Titus served as a messenger, and later the minster of the Lord’s church at Crete. The one common themes in both of Paul’s letters to these two young men were encouragement and instruction.
Paul instructs both Timothy and Titus on how to lead and maintain a healthy and unified church. But in 1 Timothy 4:12 and Titus 2:15 he encourages these two men to “let no one despise you nor your youth.” Both would no doubt be looked down upon, and in all honesty probably had already been, because of their young age. Paul’s point in making these statements is that regardless of your age, you can still serve God. Never let your age, the wisdom, knowledge, and/or experience you think you lack, be a factor when it comes to serving the Lord.
I have to remind myself of this constantly. Whether it’s at Liberty or otherwise, there have been numerous times when I am standing in the pulpit or teaching a Bible class and thoughts begin to creep in as I look out over the audience of “who am I to be up here?” These people all have way more knowledge than I do. No doubt Timothy and Titus had these feelings. I know there’s other ministers of the Gospel in this area who have shared that they have felt like this too. Friends, it doesn’t matter if you’re preaching the Gospel, or doing some other work in the church. You have a role, you are of value to God, no matter how young or young at heart you may be!!
In Him,
Carver
