1 Timothy 4 - Do not neglect the gift

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​1 Timothy 4

Let no one despise your _________.  In this letter Paul tells Timothy to let no one despise his youth. What is the blank for you? The thing that may make you a little insecure and afraid to step into your calling? Age, experience, pedigree, personality, education, resources, past mistakes, other opinions?

I believe in all of us are things we want to do – things we feel the Spirit nudging us to do – and we start off so passionate about it, but then doubt creeps in. The whispers of the devil telling us we can’t do it. And we think things like…

When I get a little older
When I get more experience
When I pay off this debt
When I have more support
When I graduate
When I get married
When we get that house
When I get that better job
When the kids get older
When the opportunity falls in my lap
If only I started sooner
If only I were younger
If only I didn’t have all these commitments
If only I didn’t make all those mistakes

We are paralyzed by the “when” and “if only.”

“Do not neglect the gift you have.” (1 Timothy 4:14) Paul’s advice to Timothy is for us too. These gifts… things we are passionate about, places we want to see change in the world, ideas we can’t get out of our head, experiences we have had… these gifts are from God. Don’t neglect them. Don’t let them gather dust and never bloom into what God gave them to you for. And you don’t have to do it all at once. Take a small step today in that direction. Make today the day you say, “I will no longer neglect the gift I have!”

Paul continues, “set the believers an example in SPEECH, in CONDUCT, in LOVE, in FAITH, in PURITY.” Do your thing. Do it even if you are scared. Do it even if you think others will mock you. Do it even if you don’t feel experienced enough. God will equip you for what He calls you to. And when you do it, do it with integrity of speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. I’m rooting for you.

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