Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 90

March 31;    I Timothy 4:12;     90/260(II);    ‘Biblical Maturity’

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 life, in love, in faith and in purity.      NIV

Spiritual growth is not determined by chronological age, it is determined by how serious each of us are about the things of God.  A person, regardless of age, if they spend quality time reading the Bible, praying and worshiping the Lord, that person can and will grow strong spiritually.  In the church we were Born Again in, there was a teenage couple, who were very serious about their walk with Jesus.  I heard the young man share the Word with others and his knowledge and the anointing (I did not understand what that was at the time) on what he said astounded me.  As a teen, he had as much spiritual maturity as any person in that church.  That is not surprising.  With anything that you do, if you are serious about something and work hard at getting good at it, you will.  People may initially look down on a youth, because of their age, but when you hear them sharing the things of God and praying powerfully, that opinion of them should change.  Paul exhorts Timothy to be an example in speech.  This would mean not only how scripture is taught to others, but the Christ-likeness of your speech in kindness and courtesy.  Your life must be a witness.  Where you go, what you do and who you associate with.  Love is the New Testament Law.  Everything we say and do should reflect God’s love flowing out of us.  If we are spiritually mature, the ‘byproduct’ of our diligence is faith.  Faith comes by spending time in the Word and by appreciating answered prayer.  Finally purity is vital.  Our conduct, respect for others, treatment of the opposite sex and demeanor reflect the life of Jesus living in us.