Never Too Young

It's hard to believe this semester, this school year, is almost over. I'll be a sophomore and have successfully completed my first year of college. Whats even harder to believe is I've influenced two people this semester alone in their walk with Christ.

Wait, what?

There's no way. I'm only 19. I'm not in ministry yet!

Last night, I was utterly shocked when I was told that I had pointed yet another person to Christ. I burst into tears. What had I done to deserve God's favor that He would allow me to be a testimony for Him as a freshman at a liberal school? To someone older than me as well! It's absolutely overwhelming. You never know how big of a difference you're going to make. You never know how God is going to use you. He works in mysterious ways. Honestly, I didn't see myself making a difference until after grad school when I'm in the ministry. I've been so focused on following that path and wondering if it's right that I feel like God has rewarded my faith by using me to influence others. I'm not saying all this to brag. I'm saying all this to show how awesome God is.

The passage that came to mind last night was Jeremiah 1:5-10. God calls Jeremiah to be a prophet for Him. He says "Hey, Jeremiah, I formed you. I watched you as you were being made. Even before that I knew what you would do with your life." Jeremiah is like "Whoa, God! There's no way! I'm too young!"
"The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said, “Look, I have put my words in your mouth! Today I appoint you to stand up against nations and kingdoms. Some you must uproot and tear down, destroy and overthrow. Others you must build up and plant.”

God said "Hey, Melissa, I've got a great plan for you. I've known about since before you were formed in your mother's womb." And I'm over here like "Hey, that's great, God! In a few years right? Gotta get that master's degree!" He said "Nope, I need you right now."

I realize I'm interpreting the Bible lightly, but I'm trying to get a point across. Since when do we have to be out of college with a high degree to be an example for Christ? Who said that? The world will not change if we live under the umbrella that we're too young. Satan wants us to live that lie. He doesn't want us to be used by God. He knows that if teens and college students would stand up, a change would be made across the world. We really do have so much influence we just don't even know it. Paul told Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12, "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." That means when our friends are going out to party and drink, we stay behind so we don't appear to be just like the world. We shield and guard ourselves against sexual images and lyrics (hard to do nowadays isn't it?). We protect not only our purity, but our girlfriend's/boyfriend's as well. We treat others with respect even if they don't deserve it. None of these are easy, but Jesus never promised it would be. He said that since the world hated Him, it's gonna hate us if we follow Him. 

You're never too young to make a difference. Don't get caught in the trap that you are. Each of us can influence different people around us. God wants to do big things with us. Let Him begin His work through you! Step out in faith!