Young and Strong

eDevotion

Encouragement for your daily walk with God 

I’m troubled that many young people think they cannot be strong or mature or successful as a Christ follower until they are older. The Apostle John didn’t think so and neither do I. In his first letter, he told the young men that they had overcome the wicked one. I don’t know the age that he had in mind, but he singled them out just as he did the fathers [1 John 2.14].

So let me start with a strong word: It’s a MYTH that young people can’t be strong in their faith. The young men that John spoke about stood their ground against the false teaching and prevailing trends of their day. They didn’t back down. They weren’t intimidated. They prevailed against the bombardment of sinful influences.

How can that be? How could they be so strong? Where did they get such courage and wisdom? John said that it was because God’s Word had taken up residence in their hearts! The Greek word indicates that it wasn’t merely a visitor from time to time, but that it had settled in their souls.

Dear young one, there is no shortcut to spiritual strength. Your strength is a product of holy reverence and love for God and His Word. Perhaps the spiritual weakness so many young people experience is due to their unwillingness to exercise spiritual discipline. 

Weakness in not an inevitability because you are young. When God’s Word has settled in your soul, when your spirit and will submit to the application of God’s Word, you can be strong too. You can overcome temptation. You can resist the wickedness of your culture. 

Strong Christ followers read and obey the Word. They love the Word. And like the Psalmist, they think about it (meditate) day and night [Psalm 1.2].

I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one. 1 John 2:14