1 Timothy 4:12

I have been reading through 1 Timothy. For some reason this one letter of Paul’s draws me.  It is easy for me to take the charges that Paul gives Timothy and apply them to my own life.  That makes this letter so much more personal and meaningful.  Now some people might think that it is a little weird to put myself in the place of Timothy, but I think it is only natural. 

            Timothy was a co-worker with Paul.  He was a young man that Paul picked up to help continue the mission of spreading the word of God and in many ways was Paul’s spiritual son.  Paul placed Timothy in charge of the church of Ephesus where he would no doubt face many challenges.  If we can’t relate to this how can we claim to be Christ followers?  We were all “picked up” by someone that invested in us to show us the truth.  It might have been a mother or father, it might have been a friend or co-worker.  But we all had someone invest in us and really show us the truth.  Even those of us that didn’t have someone overtly invest in us had people that encouraged us along the way.  And then most likely along the way we attached ourselves to other more mature believers to learn from and to emulate.  The point is that we all have fathers and mothers of the faith, people who have lead us and guided us, people who have shown us the way. 

            And we all have been placed in a ministry and face challenges.  “Hey wait!” you yell, “I don’t have a ministry. And I have not been placed in one.”  The fact of the matter is that if you claim to be a Christian, a Christ follower, than yes you have a ministry and you have been placed in one.  What is your ministry?  Look around you.  God has placed you where you are and you are called to make the most of it for his glory.  Some of us have a more clear cut idea and vision of what God has called us to, others have to struggle a little to see how their “normal” life can be ministry.  Though while for some it may be hard and some it may be clearer that doesn’t change that we are all called and placed in ministry. 

            One of the favorite verses from 1 Timothy is 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.”  So many of us are young.  We are young in age, young in experience, young in our faith, or young in service.  But just because in might be young in this way or so many other ways doesn’t mean that we should feel like we have to take a back sit.  To the contrary, we are called to be the ones setting the example.

            I love this verse because I have always felt young, I might be getting older but I have always had a self-image of being very young.  And because of this I have felt like I have no “right” or “authority” to speak out or lead.  But this could not be further from the truth.  So when students look upon a ministry and think, “I can’t do this, I am too young.”  I have to say, if not you than who.