"Remember your Creator in the days of your youth." Ecclesiastes 12:1
Our Creator has always placed a high value on the services of young people in His kingdom. There was Joseph, who at the age of 30 became the prime minister and food administrator of mighty Egypt. Samuel was a comparatively young man when he rose to leadership in Israel at a time of great political disturbance. David the youth turned the tide of the Philistine invasion when, by his sling, he conquered the bragging giant, Goliath. Paul put his young assistant, Timothy, in charge of the church at Ephesus and instructed him not to let anyone look down on him because he was young but to "set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity" (1 Timothy 4:12).
We think also of the devotion of the faithful young women mentioned in the Bible. Ruth, as a young widow, showed a remarkable faith in God and devotion to God's people. Beautiful Esther was God's instrument in saving His people from annihilation. Many more loyal young men and women used their youthful energies to build God's kingdom.
God continues to want some of that enthusiasm, courage, endurance, and daring that is so characteristic of youth for His kingdom work. "Now, who is willing to consecrate himself today to the Lord?" (1 Chronicles 29:5).
PRAYER: Dear Lord, raise up young people who will speak enthusiastically about You and work courageously to share Your love with others; for Jesus' sake. Amen.
(Devotions from "The Abundant Life" copyright 1998, CPH. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be printed, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior written permission of Concordia Publishing House. Permission is granted for one-time e-mailing of this link to a friend. For information on other devotional material, please contact CPH at 800-325-3040 or visit CPH at www.cph.org.)
Today's Bible Readings: 2 Chronicles 7-9 2 Corinthians 2
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