11月4日
标 题： 不要叫人小看你
经 节： 不可叫人小看你年轻，总要在言语、行为、爱心、信心、清洁上，都作信徒的榜样。（提摩太前书四章12节）
提摩太是一位诚实正直的年轻人，他热切地要事奉主。然而，他生命中有某些弱点，使得他无法满怀信心事奉神。提摩太是个非常年轻的宗教领袖，但很明显地，有人质疑他的能力。提摩太的个性温和，身体不是很好（提摩太前书五：23）。他很不幸地生于一个福音受逼迫的时代，且身为一位年轻的牧者！
保罗鼓励提摩太，不要让自己的年轻、没安全感，阻拦了事奉神的热心与忠诚。保罗教导提摩太，不要与那些批评自己的人争辩，而要在生活上有敬虔的榜样。保罗建议提摩太，要在生活中的言语、行为、爱心、信心、清洁上没有瑕疵，作教会信徒的好榜样。提摩太的生命足以证明神对他的呼召。神看提摩太的时候，是超越他的年轻、害羞、肉体的软弱，而看到他诚挚的心。
当你寻求神的旨意时，你可能觉得自己和提摩太一样。你也许有某项弱点，使你觉得没有资格服事主。你可能因为自己是初信者，或因为自己罪恶的过去，而自觉没有资格服事；也许你的学历很低、生活穷困，或社会地位卑微；也许你在过去事奉神的时候，曾经失败跌倒。不要让这些事阻拦你遵行神的旨意。你生命的软弱可以成为神展示祂大能的契机（哥林多后书十二：9）。接受神的呼召，容许祂改变你的生命，成为敬虔的榜样。
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.
