Revelation Letters: Philadelphia

Revelation Letters: Philadelphia

Bible Blast: Read Revelation 3:7-13

I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me. Revelation 3:8

Have you ever felt like you can’t do anything great for God until you’re an adult? Do you feel as if adults who live for Jesus have greater strength than you? According to today’s focus verse, the amount of strength you have doesn’t matter to Jesus. It’s what you do with that strength.

Just because you’re young, it doesn’t mean you have an excuse to sit back and wait until you’re older to live for God. 1 Timothy 4:12 says, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity” (NIV).

Let’s break that verse down together. You can set an example in:

Your speech. Matthew 12:34 says that whatever is in your heart is revealed by the words you speak. If you have anger, jealousy, unforgiveness, and criticism in your heart, that’s what will be coming out of your mouth. To set an example in the way you speak, make sure your heart is right before God.

Your life and your love. Ask yourself, “Why do I do what I do?” Romans 12:1 challenges us to “take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering” (The Message). If you do everything as worship to God, your life will naturally be an example for others.

Your faith. One thing I really admire about children is their faith seems so strong. They believe the impossible can happen so easily. Jesus admires their faith too. “I tell you the truth, anyone who doesn’t receive the Kingdom of God like a child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15).

Your purity. You take the first step toward living a pure life in your thoughts. Philippians 4:8 reminds you to “fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable.” If your mind is set on the pure things of God, your actions will follow.

Girl Gab: Pray today that others would be challenged by the example of your speech, life, love, faith, and purity.