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The Kingdom Of God Belongs To Such As These

Often we hear the youth being referred to as ‘the next generation’ or ‘the leaders of tomorrow’. I think that does not paint a fair picture of what our younger brothers and sisters are doing and can do for the Kingdom.

What does it really mean to ‘go evangelising’ or to ‘evangelise someone’? The way we talk about it, it seems like it’s some kind of mission, quest… thing. Certainly, there is a particular evangelism gifting and some operate in the position of a recognised evangelist, but this does not mean that we cannot or should not all be evangelising. We should. All the time.

Sadly, the older we get the more we pigeon-hole ourselves and back away from ‘special callings’. But there is a lesson we can learn from the youth. You see, the younger folk among us evangelise naturally. They don’t see any distinction between living life and reaching out to save a life. They aren’t so concerned about what they should or shouldn’t do in the Kingdom. They just get on with it. The beauty and reflection of Christ that we see in a united, fired-up youth is something awesome to behold, and that attracts people to Christ. And, after all, isn’t that what evangelism in its purest form really is?

So to those of you who have the advantage of having their teens and twenties ahead of them, I have something that I’d like you to take hold of and own for yourself. The Four 12 global family is named for Ephesians 4:12:

“…to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…”

Yet there’s another 4:12 in the New Testament which beautifully summarises your role and value in the Kingdom, 1 Timothy 4:12:

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”

Let this be your 4:12. You have an incredible calling. You have the calling to live as an example to all of us. So we can learn to speak like you, conduct ourselves like you, love like you, have faith like you, and be pure like you.

Evangelise like you.

 

Dan is married to Renee and they serve on eldership in Joshua Generation Church, South Africa. He is the father of two boys, a Brit, an expat, a South African, an entrepreneur, but, first and foremost, a son of God.

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