11月4日

標　　題： 不要叫人小看你

經　　節： 不可叫人小看你年輕，總要在言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上，都作信徒的榜樣。（提摩太前書四章12節）

提摩太是一位誠實正直的年輕人，他熱切地要事奉主。然而，他生命中有某些弱點，使得他無法滿懷信心事奉神。提摩太是個非常年輕的宗教領袖，但很明顯地，有人質疑他的能力。提摩太的個性溫和，身體不是很好（提摩太前書五：23）。他很不幸地生於一個福音受逼迫的時代，且身為一位年輕的牧者！

保羅鼓勵提摩太，不要讓自己的年輕、沒安全感，阻攔了事奉神的熱心與忠誠。保羅教導提摩太，不要與那些批評自己的人爭辯，而要在生活上有敬虔的榜樣。保羅建議提摩太，要在生活中的言語、行為、愛心、信心、清潔上沒有瑕疵，作教會信徒的好榜樣。提摩太的生命足以證明神對他的呼召。神看提摩太的時候，是超越他的年輕、害羞、肉體的軟弱，而看到他誠摯的心。

當你尋求神的旨意時，你可能覺得自己和提摩太一樣。你也許有某項弱點，使你覺得沒有資格服事主。你可能因為自己是初信者，或因為自己罪惡的過去，而自覺沒有資格服事；也許你的學歷很低、生活窮困，或社會地位卑微；也許你在過去事奉神的時候，曾經失敗跌倒。不要讓這些事阻攔你遵行神的旨意。你生命的軟弱可以成為神展示祂大能的契機（哥林多後書十二：9）。接受神的呼召，容許祂改變你的生命，成為敬虔的榜樣。

Let No One Look down on You

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12)

Timothy was a sincere young man who earnestly desired to serve the Lord. Yet certain weaknesses in Timothy’s life hindered him from serving God confidently. Timothy was very young to be a religious leader, and apparently some doubted his abilities. Timothy had a tender nature and was sickly (1 Tim. 5:23). His was an inauspicious beginning for a young minister of the gospel in an age of persecution!

Paul urged Timothy not to allow his youthful insecurity to blunt his zeal and faithfulness in doing what God had told him. Rather than arguing with those who criticized Timothy, Paul urged him to live as an example of godliness. Paul advised Timothy to live a life that was so spotless in word, conduct, love, spirit, faith, and purity that his life could serve as a model for others in the church to follow. Timothy’s life was to be the evidence that God had called him. God looked beyond Timothy’s youth, timidity, and physical weakness and saw his sincere heart.

As you seek to follow God’s will, you may identify with Timothy. Perhaps some things about you seem to disqualify you from serving the Lord effectively. You may be sensitive because you are a new Christian or because you come from a sinful past. Perhaps you have little education or money or social status. You may have previously experienced failure in your service for God. Don’t allow this to intimidate you from following God’s will. Your area of weakness may be God’s means of demonstrating His strength (2 Cor. 12:9). Allow God to demonstrate His call upon you by transforming your life into a model of godliness.