Start Young

1-11-2012 by Boyd Bailey

Start Young


“For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.” “Since my youth, O God, you have taught me, and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.” Psalm 71:5, 17

Start young learning the ways of the Lord. This is your wisest and best investment. Youthful learning is leverage for the Lord. Start young so you do not have to wade through the muck and the mire of disobedient living. There is no need to stray and go your own way for you may end up back at the point where you originally drifted from God. Stay the course of Christ while you are young, and this will catapult you into an obedient adult. Youthful dependence on God results in an adult who depends on God.

Even as those older in the faith falter in fear, your heavenly Father frees youthful hearts to attempt big things for Him. Courage and conviction fertilize well a young and hungry heart for God. The Holy Spirit is calling faithful young people to further His Kingdom. Listen to the heart of your heavenly Father and do what He says. Yahweh is calling His youth to something much bigger than themselves.

“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12, KJV).

Help the youthful start early in their engagement with God. Teach them, train them, model for them, and then send them out to serve on the Lord’s behalf. Youth do not need to be overly protected, but set free to think big for God. The larger the vision the larger their God, therefore present to them a God-sized challenge. Expect great things from young people who have a heart to follow hard after God.

Do not underestimate their ability to be a catalyst for Christ. Release them to exceed your accomplishments in half the time. Pray for God to scatter young people across the connected planet. Now is the time to send them out in the power of the Holy Spirit. Use today’s resources to prepare for tomorrow’s results. Youth need not be coddled with the status quo, rather challenged to break out of their boxes of unbelief to change the world.

“Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the days of trouble come and the years approach when you will say, "I find no pleasure in them” (Ecclesiastes 12:1).

What young person has God brought into my life to invest in with time, wisdom and encouragement?

Related Readings: Numbers 11:28; Job 13:26; Psalm 25:7; 2 Timothy 2:22