Doesn’t Use Age As An Excuse

Doesn’t Use Age As An Excuse

A HERO’S TALE

Has your mom or dad ever dropped you off at school or soccer practice or your grandma’s house? It’s always nice to see your parents again when they pick you up, isn’t it? But imagine if they dropped you off and returned to see you only once a year. Yikes!

That’s exactly what happened to Samuel. He was just a little pip-squeak —maybe only three or four years old —when his parents left him with Eli, Israel’s high priest, and returned home. They did this to fulfill a promise that his mother, Hannah, had made to God before she was able to give birth (see 1 Samuel 1:11).

Little Samuel faithfully served the Lord in the tabernacle during his childhood. As Samuel grew older, God made him a powerful prophet who led the entire nation of Israel before Israel had any kings. Eventually, Samuel crowned Israel’s first two rulers, Saul and David.

Samuel was a pretty important guy. And it all started when he was a kid.

DECODING THE MESSAGE

Have you ever been told, “This is only for adults”? Or “You can do that when you’re older”?

Sometimes, it’s no fun to be a kid! Can’t eat whatever you want. Can’t drive. Forced to sit at the kid table at large family gatherings. Always told what to do. Gotta do homework every night. Told to go to bed at a certain time.

Sheesh. Can’t a kid do anything cool?

Yes, kids can do great things for God! For proof, look no further than the life of Samuel. He started doing great things for God when he was only a boy.

In fact, the Bible shares plenty of stories about superkids besides Samuel. David killed Goliath when he was “little more than a boy” (1 Samuel 17:42, NIV). Joash was seven when he became king of Judah (see 2 Kings 11:21), and Josiah was eight when he began to rule (see 2 Kings 22:1). Jeremiah thought he was “too young” when God called him to become a prophet (see Jeremiah 1:6). And don’t forget the little boy who generously gave up his lunch to help Jesus feed 5,000 people (see John 6:9).

True heroes for God don’t use age as an excuse. Age doesn’t matter to God. All you need is faith in him and a willing heart, and he can use you in mighty ways!

BATTLE PLAN

Ask your parents to help you find a ministry at church or in the community where you can start serving the Lord right now, no matter how young you are!