I love when I have the privilege of meeting up with the young people in our community. It gives me such joy to hear where they are at, and where they are going. I love to hear their thoughts on the world they live in, and what makes their hearts ache and what makes their hearts soar.

Some recent conversations were so very enlightening to me. As I’ve reflected on them I was reminded of the verse in 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 conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

There is so much wisdom in this verse. Our young people have much to teach us but I also believe there has never been such a time as now, where there has been as great a tension between the old and new generation.

The new generation is fighting to be the future and the previous generation is fighting not to be the past.

And as a result many of our young people feel thwarted.

Back in the day when I was a youth pastor, I understood that teenagers responded to love. We all know how to love, don’t we? Most parents love their children. But teens need more than love, they need respect.

Love picks youth up by their weaknesses. …BUT respect releases them in their strengths.

Modern loves craves respect. And respecting them means we are willing to call out the good qualities we see in them and then release them in their strengths. Our young people need to be empowered. They need to be given space to grow and thrive and lead.

So empower the young people around you. Don’t look down on them or belittle their abilities. Let us not despise their youth (1 Tim 4:12)

When change comes from the top it is renewal. When change comes from the bottom it is revolution….we want a renewal. So older people must allow and encourage change. Respecting the young also means listening to their views and letting ourselves be changed by them. The young people around us can inspire us with Godly examples…so let’s not just invite them to the party, let’s give them a seat at the table…let’s give them a voice.

That is what we are doing at Amberlea.

I am so grateful to God for bringing us five amazing young people who have decided to spend the bulk of their summer influencing, guiding, and teaching - all through fun and wholesome activities - the littles of our community. They are being empowered to lead!

But the truth is we are never too young or too old to be used by God.

No matter your age, God has empowered you to love Him and to love others and to live a life that points people to God.
How? By being an example — in the way we talk, in the way we act, in the way we love, in the way we live out our faith, and in our purity.

We all can be an example!