God can use you

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God Can Use YOU as a Young Person

I’ve always thought it’d be amazing to change the world in a huge way; for God to use me to change someone else’s life.

However, everything doesn’t always go the way we expect. Sometimes things block our path and we have to find a way around them.

As young people, we sometimes get looked down upon. Sometimes we even look down on ourselves. We come up with all of these excuses.

“God can’t use me. I’m too young.”

“I can only do big things for God when I’m an adult.”

“I don’t have what it takes to make a difference.”

“What’s the point? No one expects me to do hard things anyway.”

The thing is, none of those statements are true. None of those excuses define us. So, why do we so easily believe them?

Expectations for young people are pretty low in today’s society. Have you ever heard the phrase “Boys will be boys”?

Chances are you’ve heard it multiple times. A boy does something wild or rebellious and people give the excuse “Well, boys will be boys”.

If we are constantly being bombarded with messages telling us that we’re not expected to live a Christ-honoring and respectable life, even while we’re young, how will we ever become more than that?

The answer is found in 1 Timothy 4:12.

It says, ” 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.”

This verse of the Bible was written by Paul in a letter to a young man named Timothy.

Timothy was trying to preach the Word of God to the people around him, but since he was young, he wasn’t always taken seriously.

Paul sent Timothy this letter to remind him that, even though he is young, God can still use him.

What matters the most isn’t what people say about us, it’s what God says. 1 Timothy reminds us that, though we might be looked down upon by other people, we can still set an example.

Simply telling people that they’re wrong about setting low expectations for young people isn’t going to change their minds.

If we want people to expect more of us, we have to begin by showing them that we can live for Christ as young people.

Though the Bible says not to let people despise our youth, it also tells us to set an example in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

Even when we’re expected to get into trouble or disrespect others, we can choose to stay strong and set a godly example for others.

If we start showing people that we will and want to live a life of faith and purity, then the term ‘young person’ won’t be a symbol of rebellion against others.

As Brett and Alex Harris from The Rebelution say, our years as young people can become a rebellion against low expectations.

I challenge you, this week, to really rely on God’s strength to set a godly example, even when people don’t expect very much from you.

Always remember that God can use YOU for great things, as a young person.

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4 Replies to “God can use you”

  1. This is such a great message that so many young people forget. Great job! Keep sending this message! =)

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