This saying is reliable and worthy of complete acceptance by everybody. With a view to this we toil and strive, [yes and] suffer reproach, because we have [fixed our] hope on the living God, Who is the Savior (Preserver, Maintainer, Deliverer) of all men, especially of those who believe (trust in, rely on, and adhere to Him). Continue to command these things and to teach them. Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity. Till I come, devote yourself to [public and private] reading, to exhortation (preaching and personal appeals), and to teaching and instilling doctrine. Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination]. Practice and cultivate and meditate upon these duties; throw yourself wholly into them [as your ministry], so that your progress may be evident to everybody. Look well to yourself [to your own personality] and to [your] teaching; persevere in these things [hold to them], for by so doing you will save both yourself and those who hear you. 1 Timothy 4:9-16 AMPC

Have you reviewed the demographic participation in the many protests and unrests that took place in different parts of the world in 2020? If you haven’t, you should!

The dominance of the youth in these outbursts and sometimes violent demonstrations aligns with where the last and final battle for souls is being pitched; and it will take those who understand the language of this generation to reach them and God’s strategy for action, highlighted in the re-ordering between Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18! Our holy duty is equipping the believing youth to do what God spoke of them; and that became more compelling as I listened to the sharing of how some of our youth passed their time during the 5-month lockdown in 2020, when church gathering was virtually stopped. Being at home most of the time and corralled to meet in their street with peers of different character traits, he became an enigma, that played out what Paul wrote about to his spiritual son Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:8b and 1 Timothy 6:6.

Dedication to godliness is the reason we labour and draw reproach; you will be called names, criticized and even attacked. These are not reasons to stop you telling the unbelieving and sometimes aggressive peer the reason for your faith and stand. You are required to be an example first to the unbelieving and the believing alike in your:

• Conversation; and
• Lifestyle,

in demonstration of biblical love, of spirit and in faith and purity. As a believing youth you give yourself to the study of the word, finding all opportunity to share the word and exhorting with good understanding of the doctrine. Arise o youth and the Lord will help you as you step forward to do your part as a commissioned 11^th hour worker. Selah.