4:9). The religion of Christ does not obliterate or even weaken a single faculty. IV, 330), was posted some distance away, keeping watch. It will be a fearful thing to be pronounced wanting in love and obedience by our Redeemer, who died upon the cross to draw our hearts unto Him. . Oh, the ways of providence! ‘Every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, shall receive a hundred-fold, and shall inherit everlasting life.’ [Matthew 19:29. . Does this say something about how God values youth? But He does not always give them what they desire. As a result, the grace of God does three things for us: it has brought us salvation, it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and it gives us hope (Titus 2:11-13). As most everyone knows, during the course of his duties, Potiphar’s evil wife cast longing eyes toward Joseph. At the time of my baptism, I thought everything would be rosy and easy. When David arrived on the scene he was chagrined at the timidity of his Hebrew kinsmen and volunteered to take on the infidel. Was it really so? 34:14). List the insights you learn from the related scriptural cross-references. She attempted to seduce him, but he, with firm resolve, resisted, insisting: “How can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9). Since the Passover was designed to preview the death of Jesus (cf. Many of our youth understand the theory of the truth, but how few understand by experimental knowledge the practical bearing of the truth upon their every action. Solomon, who wasted much of his life in folly, perhaps thought better of the matter in his declining days. ChristianCourier.com. ‘Say not, I am a child,’ the Lord bade His chosen messenger; ‘for thou shalt go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak. Commitment builds up faith and develops character. 1:2). The 3 B’s of Commitment. Commitment definitely limits choices because it is exclusive. . It is a spiritual discipline requiring time, work and determination." How little do our young people realize the necessity of setting before their youthful associates a Christlike example in their life and character. ]” Conflict and Courage, 237. This morning I would like to discuss something that is sometimes hard to discuss. The goal of this lesson is to inspire students to live lives of action and to understand that theology without practice is useless. 2, 286. “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! Daniel showed commitment to God over a lifetime. When we commit our lives and ourselves to God, we are only giving back to Him what He has already given to us. God will more than one hundred times make up the things that we may lose in this life for serving Him and give us eternal life. Again, at the end of his life, to his brothers he said: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good ... to save many lives” (50:20). He gives them that which is necessary for growth in grace. But he was disdained as a mere “youth” — initially by king Saul himself, and then by Goliath (1 Sam. If he is not committed to the cause of the army, he cannot be trusted. Making a commitment to God involves entrusting your life to Him and choosing to serve Him, whatever the cost. DOWNLOAD THE PDF OF THIS LESSON Young friends, morning and evening let your prayers go up from unfeigned lips that the Holy Spirit may take possession of your hearts and keep you from the seductive influences of the world. What a breathtaking episode — the soldiers of Israel on one side of the valley of Elah, the defiant Philistine champion on the other. The song is often called the “Magnifcat” (from the first word of the passage in the Latin Vulgate). Indeed, they can be a most valuable component in the service of Jehovah. What have been your engagements? When the apostle wrote to the church in Philippi, the congregation for whom he had the greatest affection, he pledged to send Timothy to assist them. Some of us probably have even more then what’s mentioned above. Lose no more time. There are few characters in the Bible about which nothing bad is said, and Joseph is one of them. He who accepts Christ as his personal Saviour, will love Jesus, and all for whom Christ has died; for Christ will be in him a well of water springing up unto everlasting life. In the 1976 Summer Olympics, Shun Fujimoto competed in … A dictionary offers several definitions of the word commitment, including: “the trait of sincere and steadfast fixity of purpose; the act of binding yourself (intellectually or emotionally) to a course of action.” Commitment involves forfeiture of your rights and privileges for someone else or for a cause; it involves responsibility. As the Bible says in Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.” Without commitment, we cannot possibly achieve that. Now and forever.” Elisabeth Elliot, Let Me Be A Woman, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois, 1976, VIII. I wish I could arouse the youth to see and feel the sinfulness of living for their own gratification and dwarfing their intellects to the cheap, vain things of this life. There are those whom you can encourage and bless by your earnest efforts. He was satisfied with his choice. God can use them mightily. While many might suggest that one’s sunset years are the hardest, my own judgment would be that the period designated as youth might be the most challenging. The Scriptures represent youth as a time both of danger and challenge. We are proud of all our youth in the Willow Vale Church. “We have a wise, loving heavenly Father, who hears the prayers of His children. Sadly, this may be the case sometimes. A number of years ago Norman Cousins wrote an editorial in Saturday Review in which he reported a conversation he had on a trip in India. He will surrender himself without reservation to the rule of Christ.” Messages to Young People, 28, 29. “Never did greater responsibilities await the youth than await them now. Every earthly, temporal consideration must be subordinate to the higher. You will be among those who are sighing and crying for the abominations that are done in the land. He was talking with a Hindu priest named Satis Prasad. By way of contrast, though, the Creator also recognizes the value of youth to the divine cause. All of this was done, of course, in view the Lord’s use of the Hebrew nation as an instrument in the divine plan which resulted in the incarnation of Christ. Where are those who are daily learners in the school of Christ? Agedness? Let them never feel that they are prepared to graduate. But do we always recognize this? Think about these cases. “Jesus does not require of man any real sacrifice; for whatever we are asked to surrender is only that which we are better off without. They are left free to choose which they will. He became God’s instrument in giving to men those principles that are the safeguard alike of the home and of society, that are the cornerstone of the prosperity of nations—principles recognized today by the world’s greatest men as the foundation of all that is best in human governments.” Ibid., 68, 69. When the apostle passed through the region a second time (16:1ff), he selected Timothy to accompany him. . Action! The ultimate commitment is a covenant. Never was it more important that a right mould be given to the character of the rising generation. When we pray, we should say, ‘Lord, if what I ask for is for my good, give it to me; but if it is not, withhold it, but give me Thy blessings.’ The Lord hears our petitions; He understands our situation, and He will supply the very thing we need. Scripture says there was no ruler of his caliber, neither before nor after him, who sought the Lord with “all his heart” as did he (2 Kgs. God is waiting for us to make a commitment to Him and His cause. God wants people who are committed to Him; committed people can be trusted with responsibility. “These histories are of vital interest. In this time, many young people are not choosing to make a lasting commitment to the Lord and to His cause. You will, if you are indeed Christians, feel more like mourning over the moral darkness in the world than indulging in levity and pride of dress. They are bizarre! One of Josiah’s important accomplishments was the restoration of the Passover, which had not been observed with care since the days of the judges (2 Kgs. You will resist the temptations of Satan to indulge in vanity and in trimmings and ornaments for display. He withholds that which He sees would not be for their good. In the Bible, we find many examples of youth who gave their lives to God and His service. The Commitment of Covenant. Prior to thirteen, a maiden might be betrothed to a man by her parents; at thirteen, she was of the legal age to make her own choice (M’Clintock, Vol. It is the same with the Lord. Illustration. Jeremiah, the great “weeping prophet,” is one of the more remarkable characters of the Old Testament. Accordingly, these hateful siblings sold Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelites who transported him down to Egypt, where the younger brother was bought by an Egyptian officer named Potiphar. Total commitment is the foundation of our relationship with God. Morning and evening for forty days, Goliath had challenged Israel to combat, but they were frozen in fear (1 Sam. I give myself, my life, my all, utterly to Thee to be Thine forever. Are our young people merely ignored as empty-headed, silly people who are unworthy of serious responsibility? This is the reward of those who commit themselves to God’s service. God’s principles had been taught to him by his mother in his youth, which laid the foundation for his greatness in God’s cause. M’Clintock, John and Strong, James. Where are youthful missionaries doing any work that presents itself to them in the great harvest field? Not being thus committed to Him indicates that we are too selfish to trust the Lord with our lives, and we cannot be trusted. We cannot but look anxiously upon the youth of today as those who must take these burdens, and upon whom responsibilities must fall. You will have formed bad habits—things you have seen and listened to that cannot be erased from your mind—with which to battle, that you would not have had, had you not strayed from the Lord. With principles unsettled, unconsecrated as they are, the waves of temptation sweep them away from what they know to be right, and they do not make holy endeavor to overcome every wrong, and through the imputed righteousness of Christ, perfect a righteous character. No, no; those who in everything make God first and last and best, are the happiest people in the world. Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ.’ Philippians 3:7, 8, R.V., margin. The story of David, who became Israel’s king, is too well-known to need elaboration. God trusted a teenager to accomplish such a vital role. Jana Grosboll, an Electrical Engineering graduate student, serves Steps to Life as its Network Administrator. In one of his books, Harry Rimmer noted that this little song, of ten verses in the English Bible, draws from twenty-three separate passages in the Old Testament (118). But he prophesied periodically even after the fall of the holy city. 5:2), clearly show that youngsters, properly trained, are capable of courageous faith and considerable usefulness in heaven’s cause. When you are young, there is a tendency to think that you have many years left to live, so you can enjoy some worldly pleasures now and come back to God later. But there are many precious promises on record for those who seek their Saviour early. Instead of linking himself with the greatness of Egypt, he chose to bind up his life with God’s purpose. 34:1-3). On the other hand, He is a father, so He does not always give us what we want because it is not for our best interest. In fact, it will be much harder. A consideration of these cases, and others that might be noted (cf. When you commit yourself to God, you commit yourself to obey Him -- with commitment … The question being what is my level of commitment as an individually?. Betty Scott Stam went to China as a missionary and married another missionary, John Stam, in China. Again, the Lord invested in youth, and the cause of truth triumphed. “A little black eyed boy had taken his stand a few feet from the narrow path leading to the door of the meeting house, and was standing there barefooted, hands in pockets, eyes and mouth open, to get a glimpse of the big preacher he had ‘hearn tell of.’ The preacher turned aside to speak to the little fellow, and to take him by the hand, and thus began a friendship that nothing but death could destroy” (Srygley, 29). “Moses was offered the palace of the Pharaohs and the monarch’s throne; but the sinful pleasures that make men forget God were in those lordly courts, and he chose instead the ‘durable riches and righteousness.’ Proverbs 8:18. Let’s reflect upon some striking examples that demonstrate God’s confidence in youth. 1 Cor 4:17; 1 Tim. His commitment to God was so firm that he was willing to lay down his life. He was removed from his family at a young age and taken to the court of the greatest monarch of that time. Commitment of marriage – one man with one woman for life. “I ask you, dear youth, who profess to be soldiers of Jesus Christ, what battles have you fought? Absolutely first! Work for Jesus; stand up for Jesus; and he will stand up for you in the day of God’s vengeance.” The Signs of the Times, September 11, 1884. “Young people who follow Christ have a warfare before them; they have a daily cross to bear in coming out from the world, and being separate, and imitating the life of Christ. If students have a smartphone (who doesn’t these days), lead them to set a calendar reminder on their phones. First, God has said in His Word, “Trust in the Lord, and do good; . To many the life of these men appears one of renunciation and sacrifice. There are several answers that I have found in inspired writings. But don't forget that commitment is a two-edged sword. 2:22). “Do not for a moment suppose that religion will make you sad and gloomy and will block up the way to success. Sermon on Commitment and Dedication – Inspiring Sermon outline by Tom Moore on the kind of commitment God will accept – total commitment. It opens a field of effort to everyone whose heart Christ has touched.” Ibid., 262. “Those who stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Immanuel should be faithful soldiers in Christ’s army. When the word of God has plainly revealed your work, have you refused to do it because it did not suit your inclination? Called to Commitment. Religion does not make the receiver coarse and rough, untidy and uncourteous; on the contrary, it elevates and ennobles him, refines his taste, sanctifies his judgment, and fits him for the society of heavenly angels and for the home that Jesus has gone to prepare.” Fundamentals of Christian Education, 83, 84. “Jesus wants the service of those who have the dew of youth upon them. In modern times, there lived a woman by the name of Betty Scott Stam who wrote the following commitment to the Lord when she was about eighteen years old: “Lord, I give up all of my own plans and purposes, all my own desires and hopes, and accept Thy will for my life. They cannot be soldiers of Christ, and yet engage with the confederacy of Satan, and help on his side, for then they would be enemies of Christ. A few months after they were married, they were captured by Chinese Communists and marched off to their deaths, leaving behind a tiny baby girl. He counted it so because it was so. In his final epistle, Paul urged: “Give diligence to come to me shortly” (2 Tim. Daniel is another Bible character of whom no fault could be found. Be not afraid of their faces: for I am with thee to deliver thee.’ [Jeremiah 1:7, 8. In fact, he went to prison unjustly because he was committed to God. In Deuteronomy 6:5, God tells us about this commitment: 5. Let your name be enrolled in the heavenly records as one of the chosen and elect of God.” Our High Calling, 219. “Early piety insures to its possessor the full enjoyment of all that makes life happy, and will give him a right to the future, immortal life. They went to try to reach a Stone Age tribe that later murdered them. How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where ‘the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;’ where ‘the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick,’ and ‘the voice of weeping shall be no more heard.’ Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19.” Education, 271. “Success in any line demands a definite aim. The entire future of the Hebrew nation — the instrument to be employed for the conveyance of the Savior — was entrusted to a young girl. Genesis 8:21; 2 Timothy 2:22; Ecclesiastes 12:1; 1 Timothy 4:12; Acts 7:9; Genesis 39:9; Genesis 37:2; Genesis 45:5; 1 Samuel 17:10-16; 1 Samuel 17:33, 42; 2 Kings 23:25; 2 Chronicles 34:1-3; 2 Chronicles 34:14; 2 Kings 23:21-23; Luke 1:46; Philippians 2:20; 2 Timothy 4:9; Acts 14:8; 1 Timothy 1:2, Jackson, Wayne. Those who wait until the span of life is almost ended before they seek God, lose a life of pure, elevated happiness,—happiness that never comes in the pursuit of the pleasures that this life affords. ]” Review and Herald, August 11, 1891. “The same mighty truths that were revealed through these men, God desires to reveal through the youth and the children of today. Moses counted the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. ‘Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them.’ Wisdom calls to the sons of men, ‘I love them that love me; and they that seek me early shall find me.’ They will find that the ‘path of the just is as a shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day;’ and at the last, the Judge of all the earth will give every one according to his works.
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