YOUR YOUTH IS POWER

The Apostle Paul wrote the book of 1st Timothy as a leadership manual for his young protege. In chapter 1 Timothy 4:12-16, Paul writes:

"Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you, which was given to you by prophecy with laying on hands of the leadership. Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing you will save yourself and those who hear you."

Great example of righteousness by a young person is so powerful. Why? Because young people are supposed to be mistake ridden, they are supposed to be immature, they are supposed to say things that are dumb, they are supposed to move in and out of life changing and life threatening choices on a daily basis, they are supposed to sow their wild oats right?

I used to believe that. But along my way I've met young people who do not fall into this trap of thinking you have to, "get it all out." Jesus was 33 when he started his ministry. When he was 18 to 22 years old I doubt he went on a 4 year partying and drinking binge. We are what we surround ourselves with. We become these things because we have nothing inside that tells us that this is just not what I do.

A great example is Tim Tebow, current QB of the Florida Gators. He is not only the best player in college football, but he is a great example of a young person living a righteous life. He has his skeptics, but I've done my research. I know kids who know Tebow well, who go to practice with him everyday, who hang out on campus with him. They say everything you hear about him is 100% true, he is a authentic in his walk. What a breath of fresh air this guy is. I guarantee, just because this young many walks his talk, he will change lives drastically around him. He shows us that you can be young and not dumb. That you do not have to do what young people think they have to do. He shows us that if you believe you were individually created in Gods image, an being of greatness and infinite power, that you too should not settle for any other path than greatness in your life.

Listen to the words of Paul my young friends. Keep your mouth closed and your walk upright. The more you walk the less you have to talk. People would rather see your message than hear it.

1. Let no one despise your youth (v.12)--Do not let anyone tell you you are too young to make a difference
2. Be an example in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity (v.12)--Walk your walk, keep you words short and uplifting, conduct yourself as an example to the believers. Practice love, faith, and purity.
3. Do not neglect the gift that is in you (v.14)--You were created by a supreme God in his image. You were created for greatness. Do not neglect this gift you've been given. To unleash your gift you must believe in it. You must be live righteously, humbly, and with a desire to change the world around you.
4. Meditate on these things daily (v.15)--Pray for your example, Pray to help resist temptation, drink from the Bible, study the great lives who have been examples in their own lives.
5. Give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all (v. 15)--There is no grey area in an authentic life. You understand that a delving into a little of this will always lead to a lot of it. You must commit to your example. The more you commit, the greater conviction you will have. Your yes will be yes and your no will be no. Only in this will your progress be evident to all.
6. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you (v. 16)--Perseverance is the key to greatness in anything. You will be mocked, you will be slandered, you will be called a fake, a fraud, a holy roller. Persevere, my friend. They say the reason that Jesus loved people so much is because he didn't need people. Not that he didn't care, but he did not care about their opinions of Him. He could lead because he was so confident in His life's mission, that He was a off-spring of the Holiest being, the creator of the universe. Your mission, your purpose, and knowing that you have greatness in your DNA should help you continue to walk through the gauntlet of persecution. This perseverance changes lives and changes the world.

NOBLE ONES

The first time I looked up "noble" I found the definitions to be, "possessing outstanding qualities, or high birth or exalted rank, possessing very high or excellent qualities or properties, grand or impressive in appearance." When you look at these definitions it's easy to see the word noble as talking of performance, aesthetic looks, position in society, or even what family you are born into.

What do you picture when you see a noble person? Before today, I saw a king, or queen, someone with a large crown on their head. When I saw nobility this way I see power, I saw a standard that most people will never be able to achieve in their life. However, in my study today I found something enlightening that completely changed the way I looked at nobility. I found nobility is not a label given to kings, queens, high performers, or people with good looks. Nobility is a quality that can be possessed by each one of us.

In Colossians 4:2, Paul writes to a group of Christians in Colosse, "Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving." Paul orders the group to pray and when they pray be thankful, to pour out their gratitude to God. Paul writes "be vigilant in thanksgiving." The Greek definition of vigilant is, "to be sleepless." Paul was telling his people to be sleepless in their gratitude, day and night, night and day be expressing thanks and being grateful for everything God has done and provided for them.

What does this have to do with nobility? Nobility has nothing to do with position, birth right, or looks (Thank God!). Nobility has everything to do with selfless sacrifice. The most noble give up everything, including their life for the good of others. Instead of a picture of a king or queen, my picture of nobility changed to a Mother Theresa, a soldier who lost his life in war, and Jesus Christ.

Nobility is giving everything you have for the good of others. It's finding what God has blessed you with, not to hoard it, but to share it to bless others. Circumstances have nothing to do with living a life of nobility. Nobility is a choice which starts with a willingness to be sleepless in gratitude. Author Erwin McManus writes, "the singular characteristic that will determine how far we travel in our quest for nobility is gratitude."

Choose to be noble. Do not hoard your gifts, do not use them to build riches and wealth for you only. There is nothing wrong with riches and wealth and if your gift gives you this ability, then do it. However, be always living in gratitude, always be looking to give, always be looking to bless the lives of others. This is true nobility. The greatest people are not those who have everything, but those who give everything.

RIGHT THINKING

Philippians 4:8 is one of the only verses that we need to know that really encompasses what our minds should be set upon. Paul, who at the time of writing this letter to the Philippian church, is locked in prison. He is writing to encourage the Church to, "Rejoice in the Lord always." In verse 8 Paul writes,

"Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things."

I looked up the definitions of these words that we should be thinking on:
1. True--Being that which is the case rather than what is assumed.
2. Noble--Possessing, characterized by, or arising from superiority of mind or character of of ideals or morals.
3. Just--Acting or being in conformity with what is morally good or upright.
4. Pure--Free from moral fault or corruption
5. Lovely--Eliciting love by moral or ideal worth
6. Good Report--A persons high standing among others
7. Virtue--Conformity to a standard of right
8. Praiseworthy--Something worthy of praise

What we spend our time thinking on turns us into who we are. Our actions, right or wrong, always begin in the mind. Thoughts lead to feelings, feelings lead to actions; it's called the process of manifestation. If we choose to let our minds wander on what the world throws at us we will have no choice but to meditate on things that are corrupting to our souls.

So use this list of words as your checklist when you are going to watch, read, focus, or let anything get into your mind. Make sure that whatever it is is true, noble, just, pure, lovely, of good report, has any virtue, and is praiseworthy. In this your mind will change, your heart will change, your actions will change, and surely your life will change.

The High Horse

There is no greater quality than humility. Though rarely pursued in this day and age it is the what truly separates people into greatness. Humility is simply thinking of others, or putting others before yourself in all decisions and actions that you take. It's not taking advantage of someone when you have the chance. It's accepting others for who they are because you know the shortcomings you possess. Take a good look at yourself today. Humility begins with self-awareness. When you see yourself for who you are, you'll realize just how much you need to change.

“Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

Likewise submit to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed in humility for god resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of god, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”
1 Peter 4: 1-7