INTRODUCTION
The youths of today are the leaders of
tomorrow. Therefore, Christian youths are expected to have virtues that portray
the life of Christ in them. These virtues will help them not to misbehave either
at home or in the church.
The
following points should be noted:
1.
Good testimony about their
spiritual life by their parents.
We have Timothy as an
example. His mother and grandmother gave him home training and he received it (II Timothy 3:15). ”Greatly desiring to see thee, being mindful of thy tears, that I may
be filled with joy. When I call to remember the unfeigned faith that is in
thee, which dwelt first in thy grandmother Lois, and thy mother Eunice; and I
am persuaded that in thee also” (II Timothy 1:4-5). “And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are
able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (II
Timothy 3:15). Also, Samuel has good
testimony of dedication to God and God was using him (I Samuel 3:19) “And Samuel
grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the
ground”. As a youth, can
your parents testify to your salvation? Are you not a leader causing
trouble, either at home or in the church? Change for better today, and it will
be well with you.
2.
The type of method which is
good to choose life partner
It is not a good practice to
be chasing a partner by force to fall in love with you. It is not good to
snatch somebody who gas been engaged from his or her partner. The right step to
take is to go to your pastor and tell him that you want to have a partner and
the person in your mind is sister so and
so. If the sister is engaged, he will tell you. If she is not yet engaged, he may
assist you to call her and tell her to be praying on it to know if it is the
will of God. After the sister has received the answer in prayer, she
should see the pastor. If it is yes from the sister, the pastor
will take the answer to the brother, then, both will see themselves and start their
courtship as approved.
Another step is that if a brother comes to
see the pastor about a sister, and the sister has not been engaged, the pastor
can ask the brother to go and see her, telling her that he has seen the pastor,
and that the pastor has allowed him to approach her. If the answer is yes,
later, both of them must let the pastor know, and he will give them guidelines
on their courtship.
3.
Respect to the ministers of
God and our parents
The ministers of God and our
parents deserve our respect. Hebrews
13:17 says “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for
they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it
with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you”. In the
same vein, Ephesians 6:13 says “Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand”. A very humble youth will be under the
leadership of his assembly’s ministers. If he did anything wrong and the
ministers rebuke him, he should take it and correct himself. Likewise, if the
parents rebuke any youth who has done wrong, he should take it humbly, not with
nagging and murmuring.
SEPARATE YOURSELF FROM BAD GROUPS
4.
Setting yourself apart from
those who are not good examples (II Corinthians
6:14-18) “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what
fellowship hath unrighteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath
light with darkness? And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part
hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of
the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I
will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among
them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and
I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and
daughters, saith the Lord Almighty”.
Not all the youths receive training; they
prove stubborn and behave as if they have never attended any church before. If
these types of youths have any access to any leadership post in the church,
what do you think they will do? So, any serious youth who is a saved soul
should not make such youths as mentors, but to stand as disciple of Christ.
5.
Overcoming the spirit of
pride which make youth to look down on their elderly ones.
It is a common language
among the youths today that elderly ones are called old school that is why they assumed they know more than them. Know
that as a youth, you have not experienced many things which the elderly ones
have gone through. So, be ready to learn from the elderly ones, don’t brag as
if you have known all things.
6.
Faithfulness in all things (I Corinthians 4:2)
“Moreover it is required in stewards that a man is found faithful”.
Faithfulness is also a
virtue needed in the life of a youth; for instance, in the area of money. If
you were chosen to be the Treasurer
of your assembly or the youths, be faithful, don’t divert part of it into your
account and falsify the figures in the record with you which you will
render to the leaders who put you there, God is watching you.
7.
Maintaining the standard of
a Christian’s principle of marrying one husband, one wife for life.
Romans 7:2 says: “For the
woman which hath an husband is bound by
the law to her husband so
long as he liveth; but if the husband be dead,
she is loosed from the law of
her husband”.
A youth must understand
that is no joy in living a
polygamous life or divorcing one’s spouse. In
Deuteronomy
17:17, Bible says “Neither shall he
multiply wives to
to himself, that his heart
turn not away: neither shall he greatly multi-
ply to himself silver and
gold”. Be
satisfied with only one husband and
one wife, living together
for life.
Prayer points
1.
Lord, thank You for giving
me the grace to know the gospel.
2.
I pray that the devil will
not use me.
3.
I will not be a
disappointment to my God.
4.
Lord, give me the grace to
be humble and remove any act of pride in my life in Jesus’ name.
5.
Lord Jesus, help me to be
more dedicated than before in Your service.
6.
Lord, help me to be good
example for others to emulate.
7.
Lord, I will not drag your
name to the mold in my conduct and behaviours.
8.
Lord, help me to run away
from sexual immorality that can bring Your curse upon me.
9.
Let holiness be my watchword
all the days of my life.
10.
Lord, prepare me for heaven
always.
