Encouraging our Youth

The greatest earthly asset of church and family is its youth.  Without young people there would be no hope for any society to exist.  We find this especially true in our aging congregations.  While they are reminiscent and homey to attend, without youth to continue the mission, the longstanding congregations would surely close their doors forever.  We must bring our own children to the services, invite other families, and do our utmost to retain our current blessings by encouraging the youth.  How shall we encourage our young people?  We must show them how to love the Lord and not be terrified of Him--this will create a lasting and faithful relationship with God.  Remember the words of Jesus penned by John: "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.  And His commandments are not burdensome.  For whatever is born of God overcomes the world.  And this is the victory that has overcome the world--our faith.  Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?" 1 John 5:2-5 NKJV.

For many years we have preached that husbands should cherish their wives (Ephesians 5:28,29) in order to strengthen marriages, families, and ultimately, the church.  There is still a tremendous need to cherish our children and young people.  "Then little children were brought to Him that He might put His hands on them and pray, but the disciples rebuked them.  But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven.'" Matthew 19:13-14.  In the days prior to that event, Jesus had told His disciples that, "...unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven."  Matthew 18:3.  Jesus used the children and young people to demonstrate humility, purity, and dependency that is absolutely essential to an entrance into heaven's kingdom.  Even from this profound example meant for adults we should take the minor inference that Jesus uses young people for His work.

There are many stories in the bible about young people that have captured our hearts and have become the beloved heroes we admire so much.  You remember Abel, Samuel, David, Samson, Ruth, Daniel and so many more, but let me remind you of three more young people that served the Lord in simplicity.  

In 2 Kings 5 we read of Naaman, the commander of the Syrian army, who was stricken with leprosy.  Leprosy was a dreaded disease because it mutilated the skin and severely damaged nerves.  In addition, leprosy caused the victim to be shunned from society as they feared its spread.  This could mean a separation of family, loss of income, severe depression, and possibly death.  (These reasons are probably why leprosy is so often related to sin in biblical examples.)  Naaman went from Syria to Israel to be cured but Elisha, the prophet of God, did not go outside to meet the grand parade nor perform some high ritual as Naaman expected.  Instead, Elisha sent his servant out to meet the great military giant and give him a brief message:  "go to the Jordan and dip seven times."  With all of the more pleasant rivers and bodies of water available, Naaman was further perplexed with his proposed cure.  When he finally yielded at the urgent and wise counsel of his assistant, he dipped and was healed to the uttermost.  Naaman was thankful and gave the God of Israel all of the credit.  A mighty work was done in Israel that day that demonstrated the awesome power of God to the heathen nations.  We may not have read this wonderful account had it not been for a young woman.  She has no name recorded, yet she is an important contributor to this story.  Naaman had taken a captive Israelite girl to serve his wife.  It was she who, by the power of suggestion, guided Naaman to Elisha for his tremendous healing.  She told her mistress, "If only my lord were with the prophet who is in Samaria!  He would heal him of his leprosy." (Paraphrased).  You see, God used her because she was a faithful believer in His power and goodness, even towards her captor.

When the fullness of time had come, God sent an angel named Gabriel to bear a  message to a virgin girl named Mary.  "Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!" Luke 1:28.  Further, Gabriel told her that she would conceive and bear a son, and call His name Jesus who would be great and also called the Son of the Most High.  From this moment, the pure and innocent Mary began to keep her fears and hopes in her heart.  We follow her history as the mother of our Lord, noting the trip to the temple with her babe and the blessings that came from Simeon and Anna.  Then in His youth at the age of twelve, Jesus caused His mother anxious fear as He was missing from the company but days later found safely in the temple reasoning with the elders.  She was there to introduce Him with His first miracle at Cana.  Mary heard His teachings and loved His accomplishments.  Alas, her heart was broken at Calvary when her truthful, sincere beloved was lifted heavenward on Rome's cruel cross where He became the Savior of mankind as she remembered Simeon's early words, "Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel." Luke 2:34. Surely Mary rejoiced when the news of the empty tomb and the sightings of her risen Son reached her loving ears.  Though Mary did not choose this great deed of divine motherhood, God chose her through His grace to care for the Savior of the world, the little lamb of God.  Mary's memorable life began in her youth and her allegiance to God when she said, "Behold the maidservant of the Lord!  Let it be to me according to your word." Luke 1:38.In the ministry of Christ, Jesus had occasion to work a fine miracle that would demonstrate His power to abundantly fill the needs of His people.  John 6 tells the story of a great swelling crowd that followed Jesus to hear His teachings and witness His miracles.  As the day drew on Jesus desired to feed His followers.  The doubting disciples feared that the money they carried would not be enough to buy the crowd a mere morsel.  Andrew brought the Lord five loaves and two fish.  Jesus gave thanks and distributed the food to 5,000 men.  Afterwards, the disciples collected twelve baskets full of the leftovers.  This is one of Jesus' most talked about miracles even today.  He graciously fed a huge crowd with a little boy's lunch of sardines and crackers (a point recently made by our Brother Johnny Elmore).  Once again we see God using an unassuming youth to do His greatest works.  Like the young servant girl in Israel, we don't know this boy's name either, yet he is a minor contributor to a major biblical moment.
God has a need and a use for young people!  It is imperative that we teach (and also believe) that many of the Lord's heroes of the bible BECAME heroes/heroines when they were young, not old!  Encourage them to love God now.  Don't teach them to grow up then become pious.  Teach them to love now!  "If you love Me, keep My commandments" John 14:15.  "Perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18.
Young people are not perfect, but neither are older people.  The younger look to the older to learn how they can make their own marks and contributions to their society and generation.  "Even a child is known by his deeds, whether what he does is pure and right." Proverbs 20:11.  Let's not stifle our youth but encourage and guide them to greatness through serving Christ.
The often imprisoned apostle Paul was nearing the end of his life and apostolic mission and wanted to be assured of the faithfulness of those he trained to care for the flock of God. Paul wrote to his young protege, Timothy, and urged him to keep himself humble and dedicated to the Lord.  "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 the laying on of hands of the eldership.  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 this you will save both yourself and those who hear you." 1 Timothy 4:12-15.  We ALL want someone to help us find the answers.  Lord help us to steer our young people as Paul did for Timothy with sincerity and edification.
In Psalm 119:9-16 the psalmist captured the struggles of youth when he wrote these beautiful words:  "How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking heed according to Your word.  With my whole heart I have sought You;  Oh let me not wander from Your commandments!  Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Blessed are You, O Lord!  Teach me Your statutes.  With my lips I have declared all the judgments of Your mouth.  I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies, as much as in all riches.  I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways.  I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your words."
We could have all kinds of entertainment like Sunday schools and children's church, playgrounds, gymnasiums, big screen TVs, coffee bars, drive through services, and whatever the mind can imagine--but these things would divide the youth from the mature and this is the opposite of what we all need.  The mature need the young as much as the young need the mature.  We should work together and have fun together. (Teach them how to have fun.) Encouragement isn't a long list of what not to do but a springboard for things to be done.  Jesus gave us the congregational setting for our edification and His worship.  What a blessing it is indeed!
I believe that young people are a wonderful blessing and have always tried to champion their genuine desire to do what is right.  When we help each other set the love of Jesus Christ as our priority, His laws will not be burdensome, nor His judgments terrifying.  
Listen to them.  Pray for them.  Guide them.  Watch them grow.

—Sean McCallister