Youth Strengthening Youth

It is true that many youth destroy other youth by their corrupt example, but it is also true that many youth strengthen other youth by their good example.

For a while, Zoe had secretly felt that she shouldn't have a Google+ anymore, but she always justified keeping it by saying, "Well, Jane [her sister] has one, and Alice [a friend] has one, so it must be OK!" One day Jane went on her Google+ and saw that Alice had said she was getting rid of her Google+ because she felt convicted about it. Jane related this to Zoe, and afterwards Zoe declared that she  was going to delete her Google+ as well. Her friend's example had revived her stifled convictions and inspired her to heed them this time. "Seeing Alice do it gave me the courage to do it, too," she explained.

One Sabbath morning, Jane had spoken about something un-Sabbath-like with her father. When she was in the youth Sabbath school, the teacher related something one of the fellow students, Jack, had to struggle with. Friday evening his sister had called. Jack offered to play something for her on the piano. "What would you like me to play for you?" he asked after a moment or two. His sister named a piece that wasn't appropriate for the Sabbath. As much as Jack loved his sister, he had to refuse. He wondered if he had done the right thing, but realized he had to be faithful to GOD even in the little things. Jane and all the others agreed.

Later in church that day, the thought came to her that she should apologize to her father when she went home, as he hadn't gone to church that day. She decided to, but when she returned home, her courage began to wane. After all, her father wouldn't understand, and she might receive a lecture or criticism. O LORD, it's such a little thing. He will think I'm extreme, she thought. And besides, You know what I will get.

The thought came to her as clearly as if someone had spoken: What did Jack do?

Jane paused. True, the situations weren't exactly the same, but the principles at stake were: listening to one's convictions, standing up for one's beliefs, and being faithful in the little things. OK, OK, she relented, and went and apologized. Although she was criticized, her heart felt light, because she had done the right thing.

But neither Zoe nor Jane, as far as we know, would have done what they did had it not been for the godly examples of Alice and Jack. How important it is, then, fellow young people, that we strive to present a good example! Who knows who it may help.

Paul's counsel to Titus is just as applicable to us today. He said, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works" (Titus 2:7a). A pattern, friends, that our friends are safe in following. In the book of Hebrews, chapter ten, he writes: "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works" (v. 24). Perhaps this doesn't always mean we should consciously consider other specific individuals, but simply that we should consider whether choices we make are worthy of imitation, and whether they could strengthen someone else to choose to do what is good and right. May we all seek to do this. One never knows the extent of the positive influence such a course will have in this life and in the next.

Blessings,
Jean