The sermon’s focus was NO EXCUSES. Specifically, Pastor Bobby referenced 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.” He started by directing this to the younger folk in our congregation. The high schoolers, the kids with severe influence on others who are impressionable. He expanded it to include NO EXCUSES: You’re not too young, too old, too unknowledgeable, too damaged, too quiet, too…anything…to go to work for Jesus.
This is where I perked up. Because y’all, I was OLD when I turned my life over to Jesus (I can just see my Mom cringe when I say that I’m old). I wasn’t OLD, but comparatively to others in the church I was attending, I was a late bloomer.
I grew up knowing the story of the Gospel, knowing who God is, knowing the story of Jesus, but not really KNOWING God or Jesus. There’s a big difference.
I attended church very, very occasionally, and when I thought I might be interested in learning more, I felt like I was too damaged and if I could get my life in order, maybe then I’d try again. I also felt ill-equipped to ask questions, to learn and a little embarrassed to even bring it up because I felt like people would think, “Girl, you’re 33. You should know this by now” (Insert Andy Dwyer/Al Gore meme here. Actually, I think I will include that).
Newsflash: I still don’t have my life in order. I’m messy, imperfect, impatient, angry at times. My past didn’t magically vanish. But I learned who Jesus really is and that made all the difference. I still am very unknowledgeable, but my old church took a leap of faith and let me write blogs and my new church trusts me enough to put together Sunday’s slides for our services. My experience as a new Christian makes it easier for me to talk to other new Christians, because I’ve been there, recently, and I know all of the excuses and obstacles that can come between a person and getting to know their Savior. I know the hesitations newer Christians can have about getting involved in the beginning because they just don’t know what they don’t know.
But my stance is this:
If you know that Christ died for your sins, our sins and you know that because of this you have salvation AND you know to treat others with kindness and love, then I think that’s pretty much where it all begins and ends.
The rest of it, you’ll learn as you dig into Scripture and when all else fails, no worries, it’s written down and you can look it up. There are resources to point others to when you don’t know the answer (other church members, pastoral staff, Scripture itself, etc.).
Finally, know this:
You’re never too young, too old, too damaged, too broken, too anxious, too scared, too poor, too rich, too uneducated, too educated, too ANYTHING to know Christ. To be loved by Him. To influence others to also love Him.
And that, my friends, is some Good News.
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