Sharing with Youth

A friend thanked me this morning for sending her daily scriptures with encouraging comments. Here’s what she said: “Beautiful! …I’m thankful for YOU BOTH! I’m too busy with my job. You remind me to try harder to slow down my brain and bring to the front of my mind all HE has done.” I don’t think she’s alone in facing worldly distractions. Here’s what I wrote back to her: “I understand. I’m learning that when I start the day focused on our Father and serving my Lord Jesus, then I can take other things in stride properly. Especially speaking in tongues helps during the day! Love you!!!!!!!!!!!”

Yesterday I saw my young friends Ethan and Cade at the YMCA. They swam laps in the lane next to me and had another bearded young man with them. I thought of 2 Timothy 3:16,17 while I swam and thought I should share it with them. After finishing my laps [including a new “butterfly” section] and going down the outdoor water slide a couple times, I did share it with Ethan at our lockers.

2 Timothy 3:16,17:
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
That the man of God may be perfect [equipped and ready], throughly furnished [having all the equipment needed] unto all good works.

We both hit the sauna along with Cade and the other young man, who was Ethan’s older brother, Coleman. He is a student at The Ohio State University and home for the summer. I told them about how of all the cities Sherry and I have lived in around the world, Columbus is my favorite because the whole town puts on the red and grey for game day. It’s like one high school for a giant city with everybody sharing the joy. I also told them about running two full marathons there and getting to go through the “shoe” [the horseshoe-shaped football stadium] during one race.

I also shared about 2 Timothy 3:16: doctrine [teaching], reproof [showing where we’re off the teaching]; and correction [getting back to the teaching after we make wrong “teachings of our own”]. All that is instruction in how to live righteously. I told them about Roman-Corinthians-Galatians and Ephesians-Philippians-Colossians being “sets” of doctrine-reproof-correction.

Then I shared about 2 Timothy 3:17: That Paul wrote to Timothy, a young man like they are, and how the scriptures give them all the equipment they need to be successful as a “man of God” to do “all good works” our Father has called them to do through Jesus Christ our Lord.

They loved it, and Coleman shared how he loves to read Psalms and Proverbs. I told him about the book I wrote on Psalms and in the book I share how many scriptures in Psalms tell about the coming Messiah. We also talked about how David had God’s heart, but Solomon [who wrote many proverbs] was swayed from God by women and the idolatry they brought with them. Then Solomon’s son Rehoboam being prideful and not listening to the older advisors, but following his young “friends”–and causing David’s kingdom to split. They hadn’t heard about this and were greatly moved by it.

Then to top it off, we talked about the power of the holy spirit. I explained that speaking in tongues is primarily for prayer. That when I think of them, even though I don’t know what they need, by praying in the spirit [speaking in tongues] for them, God will meet their need [like it says in Romans 8:26-28]. I also explained about tongues in a group of believers with interpretation. Then I spoke in tongues and interpreted. It was very encouraging.

After that another man came into the sauna. He quietly listened to our conversation. Coleman shared that he was studying “Communications” at OSU. When we were about to leave, this older man spoke up and told us how important it is to let the Holy Spirit guide us in our “communications.” Jeff has been married 48 years, and admitted he and his wife still get confused when they talk. I can relate! He was encouraged by our discussion and thanked us.

I’m so thankful for God’s love for us and that we can share it with others! Especially meek and God-loving youth.

Amen. I love you.