YOUTH CHALLENGE

GROW UP YOUNG MAN

       That's what boys are supposed to do – GROW UP! Who wants to be a little wimp? DO YOU? I don't think you'd like it if people always made fun of you. There is always a big bully around the corner to try to pick on the little kids.

       Well, young man, or young lady, and all teenagers or those in your early twenties, here is something for you to read. Read it. It is quite interesting. It's about a young man, probably a teenager, named Josiah. He was a pretty “tough” kid. I don't mean he was “tough” on the outside – BIG muscles, “show off,” pushing others around, and picking fights. I mean he had something that I think you might like – it's called COURAGE! Would you like that? Being tough on the inside? And not only that he had MORAL COURAGE. That's even BETTER. THAT'S WHAT YOU OUGHT TO SHOOT FOR! POW!!!

    For in the eighth year of his reign, while he was yet young, he   

 began to seek after the God of David his father: and in

   the twelfth year he began to purge Judah and Jerusalem from  

 the high places, and the groves, and the carved images, and

      the molten images.

       You may be asking, “Where did you get that bit of information.” Well, I'll answer you, from the Book that gives you all the keys of what it means and takes to grow up. I read it from the Bible, from book of Second Chronicles 34:3 in the Old Testament.

1. David and Josiah did right during their youth (Eccl. 12:1; Lam. 3:27).

2. Young people have zeal, but they need the wisdom and knowledge of the elderly (1 Kings 12:8).

3. Youth groups easily foster carnal and selfish manners without godly leadership that exalts the word of God and the authority of the home.

4. Young people can be greatly used of God, but they are not experienced for positions of leadership (1 Tim. 3:4-6; 4:12).

5. A wise youth honors his parents and humbly submits to the wisdom of the aged (Prov. 16:31; Eph. 6:1-3).