A
man was walking through the deep snow when he heard the voice of his oldest
son saying: "I'll step in Father's tracks." He was trying to do it,
and two younger brothers were at the same thing. The father went to the house
of prayer to seek God that evening, thinking, "If I lead my sons thus,
I'll make tracks for heaven." From
Bible Illustrator. I
wonder who is trying to walk in your tracks?
Scripture Text:
1Tim 4:9 (NIV) This is a trustworthy saying that
deserves full acceptance 10 (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. 11 Command and teach these things. 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.13 Until I come, devote
yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14
Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when
the body of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Be diligent in these matters;
give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16 Watch
your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will
save both yourself and your hearers.
Don’t
let anyone look down on you (they are looking) because you are young…
1.
Here Why?
a.
Where else can you turn for Hope.
V.
9: that
we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and
especially of those who believe.
b.
How else can you save yourself and those who are listening to you.
You will save yourself and your hearers.
V.
16: because
if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
“One foggy night, a tourist simply followed the
taillight of the car ahead for many miles.
Suddenly the light went out, and the two cars collided.
"Why
didn't you signal that you were going to stop?" yelled the man behind.
"Don't
rightly know why I should!" came the reply.
"I'm in my own garage." From Bible Illustrator.
Are you sure you are leading in the right direction?
-
O. J. Robertson, The Courier-Journal, July 6, 1997
2.
Here’s HOW? Here’s
the top ten ways to step right up to the microphone.
1. Set
an example for the believers
Tennis
star Andre Agassi does a commercial for Canon cameras where he boasts,
"Image is everything." That's true. But
not self-image or vain, shallow, exterior appearances. Godư image is everything.
Man is to reflect the image and glory of God. (1 Cor. 11:7). - Tom Sirotnak and Ken Walker, Warriors
(Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995) 58
2. In
Speech: They
are listening to what you say.
3.
In Life:
They are watching the choices you make, the places you go, and the
things you do.
4.
In Love: Do
you love the unlovable? Do you
have divine love or natural love?
5.
In Faith: Is
your faith in God obvious in everyday life.
6.
In Purity: Are
you different from those others in the world?
7.
Devote yourself to fulfilling your gift:
A
FOX, running before the hounds, came across a Woodcutter felling an oak and
begged him to show him a safe hiding-place. The Woodcutter advised him to take
shelter in his own hut, so the Fox crept in and hid himself in a corner.
The huntsman soon came up with his hounds and inquired of the
Woodcutter if he had seen the Fox. He
declared that he had not seen him, and yet pointed, all the time he was
speaking, to the hut where the Fox lay hidden.
The huntsman took no notice of the signs, but believing his word,
hastened forward in the chase. As
soon as they were well away, the Fox departed without taking any notice of the
Woodcutter: whereon he called to him and reproached him, saying,
"You ungrateful fellow, you owe your life to me, and yet you leave me
without a word of thanks." The
Fox replied, "Indeed, I should have thanked you fervently if your deeds
had been as good as your words, and if your hands had not been traitors to
your speech."
Actions
speaker louder than words. Indeed,
if people want to call themselves "Christians," then they need to
prove it by their lifestyles and actions.
If they don't, the world will see through them and judge them
negatively.
8.
Be diligent and give yourself wholly
(everyone may see your progress):
“One commentator noted that you
can tell what a man's relations with God are by looking at his relations with
his fellow men. If a man is at
variance with his fellow men, if he is a quarrelsome, competitive,
argumentative trouble making creature, he may be a diligent church attender,
he may even be a church office-bearer, but he is not a man of God.
If a man is distant from his fellow man, it is good proof that he is
distant from God; if he is divided from his fellow men, he is divided from
God.” From Bible Illustrator.
9.
Watch your life and doctrine closely:
The singer at our
recent youth concert sang a song that really got my attention.
It was called "When You Are a Christian, the Whole World Is from
Missouri."
Folks
from Missouri (the Show-me State) have the reputation of not just accepting
what you say. They want you to
show them. The world needs to see
our Christianity as well as hear about it. We need to make our faith such a positive force that everyone
who sees it in action will want to see for himself or herself what the Lord
can do. - Jerry Creek
10.
Persevere: (Keep on Keeping on):
Persistence…
Will you commit yourself tonight to keep on?
When no one goes will you?