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Youth Messenger Online Edition

October-December

How Are YOUth to Think?
how are youth to think?

In the apostle Paul’s epistle to Titus, there are vital instructions to be given to the young:

“Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity, sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you” (Titus 2:6–8).

To be sober-minded means more than simply not being drunk or high on drugs. The above verses actually describe the result of sober-minded thinking.

What is really amazing is that the apostle is specifically telling the young to think this way; this exhortation is for youthful people full of energy, zeal, and ambition. None are exempt.

Further, this sober-mindedness is not only for young men—verse 4 tells us that young women are to be sober, too. That means they’re not to be silly, seeking out foolish ways to amuse themselves. There’s a warning in 2 Timothy 3:6 about silly women. Such women are not models of what a God-fearing young lady should become.

Is this call for young men and women to be sober really supposed to apply to our generation living in the last days of earth’s history? The following verse says plainly: “The end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer” (1 Peter 4:7).

We often think of the church as just a bunch of older people who carry all the influence. Many youth wonder what kind of effect they could possibly have on the church. But let’s read:

“When young men and women are sober-minded and cultivate piety and devotion, they will let their light shine forth to others, and there will be vital power in the church.”—Counsels on Sabbath School Work, p. 69.

Vital power in the church! Just think! You can make a big difference! Wouldn’t that be amazing? It starts with the faith God has already given you: No one is “to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith” (Romans 12:3).

That means you! It’s something to think about.