Bible reading for 40.Day 2025 | 1 Timothy 4:12

This is a verse we like to use to encourage our young people to be confident that they can do great things for God.

But for young people to live out this truth requires someone to believe in them.

And it is not just about telling them, “I believe in you that you are going to do great things for God,” but about choosing to disciple them to be who God created them to be.

Think about it.

How can they set an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity when no one shows them how?

How can we win more youths in our nation when our young people in church do not know how to live out their faith?

Learning from Paul’s example

It is so important to invest our time in discipling young people. Youths need godly mentors in their lives to help them understand the Word of God and show them what it means to live out their faith.

That was what Apostle Paul did for Timothy.

When Timothy was young, Apostle Paul chose to invest a lot of his time with Timothy. They ate together, lived together, prayed together, and most probably cried together when they faced hardship. They were so close that Apostle Paul saw Timothy like a son. In his letters, Paul wrote: “To Timothy, my dear son” (2 Timothy 1:2)

Not just that, but Apostle Paul involved Timothy in his ministry and brought him along to places where the Gospel was not welcome to show him what it meant to stand firm despite the persecution they had to face. All these helped Timothy to become a stronger believer in Christ.

So when the church in Ephesus was in chaos, Apostle Paul was confident in sending Timothy there to lead the church despite his youth. He had discipled Timothy well enough to be the leader and encouraged him with the words, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young! Instead, set an example for all believers!” (1 Timothy 4:12)

Similarly, when you choose to invest your time in discipling young people by involving them in your life and ministry, you will raise up youths who are not just strong in their faith but who will win and lead their generation.

Equip and disciple your youths 

Today, I am a youth Pastor. I am who I am today because of all my past church leaders and Pastors who chose to disciple me when I was younger.

I received Christ at 13 years old and came to church at 14. My church leaders invested a lot of time to equip me with the Word of God, taught me how to pray, and shared with me the importance of sharing the Gospel. They also showed me how to reach out to my friends.

At 15, I began to share the Gospel with a few of my schoolmates. When they received Christ, my church leaders then took time to get to know my schoolmates and taught me how to disciple them.

Once I was ready, I became a church leader to my schoolmates. That kickstarted my journey as a youth leader, discipling and winning the youths.

I would never have imagined myself being a youth Pastor back when I was 14, but my church leaders and youth Pastors who chose to disciple me by investing their time and involving me in their ministry helped me come to believe in 1 Timothy 4:12.

Will you be the one who will choose to disciple the youths in your church? Spend time with them; involve them in your life and ministry. Teach them how to win their generation for Christ.

Our youths are not benchwarmers, but leaders of today who can do great things for God!

To the youths reading this: As the Scripture says, you are not too young to set an example and even teach the Church some new tricks. We are here for you, listening and always cheering you on!

Let’s pray:

Dear Lord, as we focus on winning the youths of our nation, help us as Pastors, parents, leaders and members to have the passion to disciple the youths in our church. Give us Your love and wisdom to guide them so that their faith will be strengthened. May we never despise them because they are young but always choose to create opportunities to empower them to do great things for God! In Jesus’ name, Amen!

Reflect: 

1. For the youth: What will you pray for your generation?

2. For the adults in youth ministry: Who is God calling you to disciple and mentor?

3. For parents of youths: How can you support your children in their journey to serve God?

Pray: 

1. That the youths in our churches will catch the fire to win their generation for Christ.

2. That they will find Pastors, teachers, parents who will mentor, support and cheer them on.

3. That the Church recognises the Timothys among them and gives them room to lead, while providing the safe support they need to fail and to grow.

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