7 May

TODAY’S VERSE

You are young, but do not let anyone treat you as if you’re not important. Be an example to show the believers how they should live. Show them with your words, with the way you live, with your love, with your faith, and with your pure life.

1 Timothy 4:12 ICB

DEVOTIONAL

Paul wrote this to Timothy, a young leader in the church in Ephesus (now in modern-day Turkey). Timothy had been dealing with false teachers who were trying to discredit him by questioning his maturity. Paul told him not to give people any reason to look down on him for his age. Timothy should be an example to them by living in a way that reflects Jesus, regardless of his age. That way, they’d have no reason to dismiss him or his teaching.

Although these words were written specifically as advice to a young leader in the church, they apply to everyone who follows Jesus. In this broken world, it’s important that we live in way that imitates Jesus, so others can see who He is and what He’s like. Then people who don’t know Jesus yet might see that you stand out from the world and will hopefully want to follow Him too!

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for sending Jesus to rescue us. Please help me to live in a way that imitates Him, so others will know what He’s like and want to follow Him. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.