Posted by Lisa Laree to Beer Lahai Roi
Today's pick is actually one of the memory verses that my Friends Club girls learn in the course of their three years:
Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love , in faith and in purity - 1 Tim. 4:12, NIV
As I read that this morning, it occurred to me that the word "young" could be replaced by about any adjective pertaining to people groups and the verse would still hold true. Timothy WAS young for the leadership roles that he had; but he had had Paul for a mentor and was well able to carry that responsibility.
He could not allow himself to be cowed or intimidated by the folks who wanted to discount his authority simply because he was young.
But...look at how he was to handle the situation. Paul didn't tell him to argue against the prejudices of others, or to take the situation before any type of judge to try and censor that wrong thinking, or to marginalize and belittle those who didn't respect him. No, Paul told him to set a godly example in all areas of his life regardless of what others thought/said/did.
All of us have things in our past that would, to some, be disqualifiers for working in the kingdom. Some of the things may be unavoidable; some may be temporary (Timothy wouldn't be young forever); some may be the result of bad choices or lack of opportunity.
But Paul's instruction is the same regardless of any of that: Don't let anyone put you down because you [are/have/were/ _______]. Teach believers with your life: by word, by demeanor, by love, by faith, by integrity. (The Message)
It's not about being personally validated; it's about modeling the kingdom.
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