Never Too Young

Read

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Think

Do you have a younger brother, sister, or cousin who copies everything you do?

You put on sunglasses, and they want sunglasses. You eat your sandwich crust first, so they eat their crust first. You jump off the bottom step, and there they go, jumping off the bottom step too.

It can be a little annoying sometimes! But it also shows something important. Somebody is watching you. Somebody wants to be like you.

Today’s verse is about exactly that. It comes from a letter to a young man named Timothy.

Timothy was a church leader. But he was a lot younger than most of the people in his church. Some people probably thought, “What does this kid know?”

So his friend Paul wrote him a letter. Paul said, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young.” Then he said, “Set an example.”

Setting an example means showing others how to live by the way you live. Paul listed some ways Timothy could do it.

“In speech” means with your words. Speak kindly and tell the truth. “In conduct” means with your actions. Do the right thing, even when no one is watching. “In love” means caring about others, especially people who need it most. “In faith” means trusting God and letting others see that you trust him. “In purity” means keeping your heart clean by choosing what’s good and right.

Guess what? Paul’s words are for you too! You are never too young to set an example.

Grown-ups can learn from kids. Your friends can learn from you. And those little kids who copy everything? They are learning from you every single day.

God made you for a purpose, and part of that purpose is right now, at your age. You don’t have to wait until you’re older to show people what it looks like to follow Jesus.

Someone is always watching. Let’s give them something good to copy.

Apply

Be the example – Pick one of the five ways from today’s verse: speech, conduct, love, faith, or purity. Try to set a great example in that one way all day long.

Pray

God, thank you that I’m not too young to follow you. Help me set a good example with my words, my actions, and my love. Help the people watching me see you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.