I am a part of the generation 1 Timothy 4:12's.
"Don't let anybody 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."
It is an incredible verse that holds boundless power for giving confidence to young people to live out the Gospel. It was a verse that I lived by, that I was motivated by.
The age of my youth propelled me because of this verse.
It was through Christ that I would be able to set an example for other believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Did I excel in all of these things? No. But I tried.
While this verse rings true for young people, I think that sometimes people get lost in that verse and forget to express the possibilities of living out the Gospel at all ages, even for older people. We get lost in the achievement factor of, "I want to go on my first mission trip by the age of 18" or for the sake of this post, "I want to accomplish {this} before the age of 80 because after 80, it's a downhill slope."
While setting goals and timelines is awesome, we must continue setting them. Even at the age of 80. We must continue running towards the cross at full speed, even if our legs don't move as well as they once did.
JD showed me this video this morning. Halfway into it, we both had tears ready to bust out but refrained. And when the end came, we were both laughing and crying. (Confession: Yes, my husband does cry on a few occasions and I absolutely love seeing that soft spot in him.)
You're an amazing example to older people because you've shown that however old you are, you can still be spectacular, and beautiful, and do something amazing.
Is it a reach to correlate this significant accomplishment in this woman's life with the Gospel?
I don't think so.
The Gospel is applicable in almost (if not, every) situation. We just have to search for it.
In this instance, I echo Paul's words to Timothy and apply it to even the older generation. Don't let anybody look down on you because you are old. Don't let people tell you that you can't do something because you're old. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
"Don't let anybody 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."
It is an incredible verse that holds boundless power for giving confidence to young people to live out the Gospel. It was a verse that I lived by, that I was motivated by.
The age of my youth propelled me because of this verse.
It was through Christ that I would be able to set an example for other believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Did I excel in all of these things? No. But I tried.
While this verse rings true for young people, I think that sometimes people get lost in that verse and forget to express the possibilities of living out the Gospel at all ages, even for older people. We get lost in the achievement factor of, "I want to go on my first mission trip by the age of 18" or for the sake of this post, "I want to accomplish {this} before the age of 80 because after 80, it's a downhill slope."
While setting goals and timelines is awesome, we must continue setting them. Even at the age of 80. We must continue running towards the cross at full speed, even if our legs don't move as well as they once did.
JD showed me this video this morning. Halfway into it, we both had tears ready to bust out but refrained. And when the end came, we were both laughing and crying. (Confession: Yes, my husband does cry on a few occasions and I absolutely love seeing that soft spot in him.)
You're an amazing example to older people because you've shown that however old you are, you can still be spectacular, and beautiful, and do something amazing.
Is it a reach to correlate this significant accomplishment in this woman's life with the Gospel?
I don't think so.
The Gospel is applicable in almost (if not, every) situation. We just have to search for it.
In this instance, I echo Paul's words to Timothy and apply it to even the older generation. Don't let anybody look down on you because you are old. Don't let people tell you that you can't do something because you're old. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
There's a woman in our Colossians bible study who just returned from a trip to Australia. She's around 80 years old, but you'd think she was 50 (maybe even younger). She told me that younger people rarely talk to her and that sometimes, as an older person, she feels invisible. This shouldn't be the case. There is so much we could glean from her... wisdom, lifestyle choices, guidance... but instead we gather in groups with younger friends and choose not to see them.
With that, to the younger generation, I encourage you to seek out the "old" people. Listen to them. Watch them. Dwell with them.
And, to the older generation, I encourage you to not give up. Your life still matters. You are still important. You can still do amazing things through the glory of God and because of the glory of God. Don't be invisible. Be a person younger people want to glean from. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. Find a younger person to be that example to. Dwell with them.
"May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:5-7)"
