Wednesday May 17th, 2023
Meditate on: 1 Timothy 4:12 ISV
« Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example for other believers in your speech, behavior, love, faithfulness, and purity. »
Read: Ecclesiastes 11:7-10 NLT
7 It is good to be able to enjoy the pleasant light of day.
8 Be grateful for every year you live. No matter how long you live, remember that you will be dead much longer. There is nothing at all to look forward to.
9 Young people, enjoy your youth. Be happy while you are still young. Do what you want to do, and follow your heart’s desire. But remember that God is going to judge you for whatever you do.
10 Don’t let anything worry you or cause you pain. You aren’t going to be young very long.
Youthful exuberance can be a very dangerous thing if left unchecked.
It can even leave an indelible negative mark on an individual for the rest of his or her life.
Are you still a youth?
I rejoice with you, but you need to give heed to what the Holy Spirit is saying in today’s memory verse, because in today’s world where the internet never forgets, the enemies of your destiny will hunt for any information about your youthful mistakes when they realize you are on your way to the top.
May your enemies never find anything with which they can destroy your great destiny in Jesus’ Name.
In the political arena, opponents are always searching for what they can use to destroy each other’s political ambition. Examples abound of how political gladiators dig into the past of would-be political office holders, telling the world the many reasons why they should not be voted into power based on past conduct, even if they have managed to change for the better.
Unfortunately, many youths do not listen to profitable counsel when they are gallivanting from one bad habit to another in the name of youthful exuberance.
The story of Reuben in Genesis 49:3-4 should be a wake-up call to any unruly youth reading this devotional study. A sin he committed in the distant past, probably in his late twenties, was revisited at the time he ought to have received the blessing of firstborn far later in life. He probably thought he was clever, handsome and the desire of all women, including his father’s wife, so much so that he slept with her (Genesis 35:22)!
The most perplexing thing about this case is that Jacob never mentioned a word about it to him. If he did, probably Reuben would have pleaded for mercy.
Some pastors destroyed their marital testimonies when they were young because it never occurred to them that they would be pastors later in life.
Down the line, after becoming pastors, they are forced to keep mute whenever any discussion on marital infidelity arises.
They cannot authoritatively divide the word of truth on this subject-matter because of their past deeds.
Some Christian teachers cannot disclose how many children they have because it will generate questions such as “Is it mummy that gave birth to this or that? If not, who is their mother and where is she? Did you marry her? If yes, how come you divorced her and marry another person, contrary to what you have been teaching us?”
To avoid the agony of such questions, I admonish young people to stay away from the so-called youthful exuberance that leads to regrets later in life.
Application: Cut off friends who draw you into things that can lead to regrets later in life, and attach yourself to a mature mentor, who is an example of living a Christlike life.
Author: Bishop Enoch. A. Adeboye.
Edited by Naomie
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