1 Peter 2:9

But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light

The Lord himself will give you the sign. Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God is with us’)

Isaiah 7:14

The Bible is filled with the stories of young people who made a difference. Jeremiah was just a boy when the Lord called him to be a prophet to the nation. He protested and said he was too young. He wanted the Lord to get someone else.

We know that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were very young men when they took their principled stand for what was true.

Stephen, the first martyr of the church, also was very young.

That is why the apostle Paul wrote to the very young Timothy, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity” (1 Timothy 4:12 nlt).

I often looked at that verse when I was starting out in ministry, because I was so young and people were dismissive of me. Yet God had called me, so I did what He called me to do. I think when you’re young, you’re more willing to take risks. That is sort of a trademark of youth. But it’s also something that can get you into trouble.

As you get older, however, you become more seasoned and experienced, more careful and cautious. You’re less willing to take risks. That can be good, because you’ve learned from experience. But that also can be bad, because you’re not willing to let the Lord do something fresh and new in your life.

Mary, the mother of Jesus, was very young, a nobody in a nothing town in the middle of nowhere. Yet she literally was a fulfillment of a promise that God had made (see Isaiah 7:14). This unknown girl living in a relatively unknown city brought about the most known event in human history.

Greg Laurie

COVID-19 Crisis Prayer – Pastor Mike

Today’s Prayer

Today’s Subject: Jesus is Our Rest

Even with extended hours and days spent sheltered in place for many, rest is not a guaranteed product our being at home on quarantine. In fact, rest can be one of the first realities set aside for those in Christ. Many of us are weary of this crisis and heavy laden with its devastation upon our lives and upon our community. Jesus commands us to come to Him and He will give us rest. The writer of Hebrews clearly records that Jesus is our Sabbath rest. Therefore, the rest that Jesus promises in Matthew 11 is a rest based wholly upon Himself, His Person, His peace. Jesus is our rest.

Pray that we would be obedient to the direction and declaration of Jesus in His call to us to come to Him. Pray we would not be overcome by our labor and heavy laden. Pray that we would desire the rest that comes only from Jesus in communion with Him and by faith in Him.

Pray we would unburden ourselves with the cares of this world and the potential yokes of bondage which would easily ensnare us. Pray that we would learn from Jesus what is needed to learn from Him each and every day of our lives. Pray that we would consider the character of Jesus as we respond and react in this crisis. To remember that He is gentle and lowly in heart. Pray that in taking up the yoke that Jesus offers us we would find rest for our souls which are vexed daily by this crisis.