Day 18 / 18.07.23 / PASTOR ZAC ZHANG, LEAD PASTOR, HEARTS ALIVE CHURCH

Day 18: Show the youth a life worth living

1 Timothy 4:12-16 “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. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

I believe that revolutions and revivals have one thing in common: They are often ignited by youth movements in a city. Let us reach Singapore with God’s love and let us not neglect the youths.

I believe Jesus loves the youths of Singapore. Here are the ABC’s of what we can do to reach them.

A: Accept them. Like all of us, youths struggle with doing the right thing all the time. Let us accept that they are a work in progress. Let us accept their faults, let us accept their flaws and let us accept their failures. Maybe even their fashion!

Jesus was a friend to people far from the Kingdom of God. We can do the same for the young people of today. Let us not make it difficult for the youths of today to experience the love of God through you and me.

Let us accept them into our lives. Treat them like family. Love them like friends. Let us reach out to them with empathy and be vulnerable toward them.

Youths today crave authenticity and community and I know this is exactly what we, the Church of Jesus Christ, can offer them today.

B: Believe in them. Many youths struggle with insecurities in their search for identity. Yet, they are really looking for people to affirm them and give them courage to face life itself. They need somebody to believe in them.

And this is the thing: How we currently frame them in our minds can potentially frame them in their lives. Let us believe that they are hungry to learn, eager to grow and that God will use them to change the world.

Believe that the youths God gives to us today are the young Davids, the youth Esthers and the young Marys who have yet to fulfil their destinies. Let us envision the youth rising up to take ownership of the Church and their generation.

Give them real leadership roles in the Church, let them have a seat in your team, a voice in your plans. Let them show us what God can do through their hands.

Someone once said that people tend to become who you expect them to become. Jesus declared to Peter that he would be the foundation of His church long before Peter was ready. In the same way, let us speak faith and destiny into the hearts of youths today.

Let us love them like Jesus would and lead them the best we can. Let us believe that they will fulfil their destinies as champions of Jesus Christ for their generation.

C: Challenge them. Youths love a little challenge in life, and I know! I was a youth too. That’s the thing about the youth phase of life. It is full of challenges, but youths are also game for a challenge. Personally, I love to challenge their negative mindsets. I love to challenge their small visions of life, I love to challenge their worldview.

As people of God, we have the most complete, robust and life-giving worldview to perceive and pursue life with. Let us challenge the youths to dive into the beautiful reality of the biblical worldview. Challenge them to live for bigger things, eternal things. Challenge the youths to rise up to transform a generation for Jesus Christ.

Youths today want to live for what matters, and the Church of Jesus Christ has the greatest and most compelling mission any corporation or institution can offer. Let us help our youths pursue the Jesus way of life today and challenge them with a powerful vision worth living for.

To the youths: I want to challenge you to rise up. Go all out, be all in! Give your best. Give your life to advance the kingdom of God with King Jesus. Take ownership of your generation, take ownership of your faith and take ownership of your church.

Love your leaders, honour them and learn from them. Be humble and teachable and see how God will use your life to change the world. Let us pray:

Father, we pray that You will ignite revival in the youths of Singapore today. Father, we pray You will use every one of us to bring about this revival.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Download the PDF version of today’s devotional here.

/ Reflect

What is your current perspective on youth in Singapore?
What has God revealed to you about His heart for, and perspective of, youths in Singapore?
Who are the youth in your life, and how is God challenging you to invest in them?

/ Pray

Ask God to fill you with an appreciation for the plan and future He has for the youth. Speak blessing over them and pray for the Spirit to move powerfully among the youths throughout churches and schools in Singapore. Pray that leaders may be raised up who are fearless in faith, bold in vision and clear in calling.
Ask God to ignite a passion for His Kingdom in the hearts of the young, that they will be the Davids, Esthers and Marys of this generation, who will be ready to step into the destiny God has planned for them.
Pray for God’s favour for our young as they pray with passion and pioneer with perseverance – bringing the presence and power of Jesus into countries, cities, campuses and whole communities of unreached peoples (LoveSingapore | Joshua 21).