May the mumbling commence!
Here is a trustworthy saying: We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe. But we look around the sanctuary and at church activities and see a lot of gray heads. How do we reach out to the younger generations? We talk about growing in faith in Jesus. But where is the future of the church when most of those growing in faith in Jesus are at or nearing retirement age? Is anything too hard for the Lord..? Out of our situation, read these verses from 1 Timothy chapter four:
This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.
Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers. (Verses 9-16)
Let’s hear that trustworthy saying again because it is worthy of repeating. We have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all [people], and especially those who believe. With this belief, how did Paul relate to Timothy? Paul set an example with his speech, his life, his faith, and his purity. Paul had shown himself devoted to Scripture in both private and public settings. Paul devoted his life to preaching and teaching. All these things Paul received as a gift from the Lord.
Even as Paul set the example through devotion to Christ Jesus for Timothy and many others, Paul closely watched the young people he had contact with for signs of similar gifts. Paul watched them over time to be sure. Much prayer and struggle must have been involved in his decision to approach someone to name the gifts of the Spirit that he saw. Read what Paul wrote later in his letter to Timothy: “Do not be hasty in the laying on of hands, and do not share in the sins of others. Keep yourself pure (1Tim. 5:22).” This care in laying on of hands was to keep not only Timothy pure but also the church where he ministered pure… Care to make sure that this was indeed a prophetic message – not that of simply human origin.
But when he saw such gifts from God upon a young person, Paul did not hesitate to publicly acknowledge God’s gifting through a laying on of hands by the elders. This laying on of hands and speaking of words was a prophetic message to the body of Christ that this person, regardless of age or social station, was anointed by God for the roles spoken to by the elders for the benefit of the church. That is why Timothy was not to let anyone look down on him because he was young.
If we are diligent in setting an example of devotion to our living God, in Scripture meditations, in prayer, in preaching, in teaching, in carefully identifying others gifts, and in publicly laying on hands for ministry; we will save not only ourselves but also those who hear us.
So in this season of Advent waiting, let’s hold fast to the trustworthy saying that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior to all [people], especially to those who believe. Let’s carefully and boldly declare that nothing is too hard for the living Lord. Let’s carefully watch the young people for evidence of the Spirit’s gifting. And let’s lay hands on and anoint these young people for the ministry God has called them to do.
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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