God still...

1 Timothy 1-4

1 Timothy 4:12-14 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. 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 prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Paul discipled young men that wanted more out of life than what the world wanted. When Paul was a young man he studied and followed the law in his own way. Than when God captured him, and Paul started seeing things differently he realized there was a different way of living and not all young men were like him. Paul knew that being young was tough and that teens make a lot of mistakes, but he wanted them to know that they didn't have to live that way. That there was a way of living that when they grow up they wouldn't have a life of regrets.

Young people have it tough. They are trying to learn whats really the truth. What really works for them in life. They experiment with drugs, sexuality, emotions, etc. And when they become an adult and find their self confidence they look back and wished they didn't do all that they did.

God wants to give teens a gift. The gift of a better future and a better adulthood. God believes in our teens. God believed in me. I knew this scripture as a teen and it stuck with me. I didn't always follow it, but no matter what i was going through or how i felt, i remembered that God believed that i could do anything i put my heart to. God didn't see me as a teenager but as a believer and as His follower. God saw me not as a immature girl but as the mature wise woman i could be. God didn't reject me like everyone else when i said or did something stupid. He held me and corrected me with His mercy.

And even though I'm not a teenager anymore, God still holds me. God still sees me. God still loves me.

Father,
Thank you for your love even at times when i don't deserve it. Thank you that because of your cross I am free from being bound in sin. You are Christ that loves me and forgives me. Lord, please forgive me for my selfish ways and thoughts. I do things that don't please you but Lord search my heart and you will see how much I love you. You are my everything and all i need is you. Hold me and guide me on your path that I may find you.
I forever love you always
Amen

Spotlight

Romans 13-16

Romans 14:13 ¹³ Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.

Paul had worked with many churches by the time he wrote this letter to the Romans. He knew that even people in the church are easily swayed by human emotions and weaknesses. One of the greatest human weaknesses is judgment. Thinking we are the judger, thinking we are better than the person next to us.

When someone judges another it doesn't mean one is better than the other, it actually is saying that the person who is judging has the bigger problem. When someone points to finger at another especially pointing out their faults the finger pointer usually has bigger sins to hide, therefore they want to put the spotlight on someone else.

God said that He would judge the world. He is the judger of people, because He is perfect. Jesus told us not to judge others because there will be a day of judgement, where people will get theirs. I sometimes find myself judging others because I feel they are being hypocrites, yet when i think that way I am a hypocrite. It is not my duty to point the finger at someone else and be okay with me only looking at their sins. Even if I know someone is sinning and they are being judgemental, I have to just give it to God. Give God my feelings about the situation, give God my thoughts (good or bad), give God all that I have so that He (the true judge) can take it and do His will.

Father.
Thank you for being the true judge. Thank you for taking my bad thoughts and hypocritical feelings and doing your will. I know that i will still have those feelings and may say things I shouldn't in time but Lord during those times (whether i know what i am doing or not) take whats inside of me and throw it out. I don't want to even use the word hypocrite because your grace and mercy has saved us ALL.
I forever love you always
Amen