There is still the youngest. 1 Samuel 16:11
Saul, the first king of Israel had failed to wait for Samuel to come and offer the sacrifice to the Lord when the Philistines we’re facing them for battle. It’s so often in the pressurised situations that our hearts are revealed. God rejected Saul and told Samuel to go and anoint one of the sons of Jesse of Bethlehem to be king after Saul. Samuel knew Saul would kill him if he heard about it, so he pretended to go and sacrifice to the Lord (ironically Saul’s downfall).
Samuel consecrated Jesse and his sons and invited them to attend the sacrifice 1 Samuel 16:5 The sons began to pass before Samuel, Eliab the eldest first. Samuel thought he was God’s chosen but God said, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him… Man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart’. Something in Eliab’s heart caused God to pass over him. So all seven sons of Jesse who were present were called forward and rejected. The eighth and youngest or least, David the shepherd, was called for and anointed to be king. God did exactly the opposite of what man would have done in His choice, He chose the least, David, because of the young man’s heart. God passed over seven to get to the man, or youth, whom He had chosen.
In the New Testament Paul did something similar with Timothy, whom he affectionately referred to as, ‘my true son in the faith’. 1 Timothy 1:2 Paul gave Timothy instructions for leading the Church in Ephesus;
11 Command and teach these things. 12 Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are YOUNG… 1 Timothy 4
Timothy was Paul’s choice and presumably the Lord’s to lead this Church, but Paul was aware that some people wouldn’t accept him because of his youth. Judging by outward appearances will often take us to the wrong conclusion, because God doesn’t choose as we do. God looks at the heart! Timothy, like David, may have lacked experience but his heart was right towards God and that was much more important.
15 Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, SO THAT EVERYONE MAY SEE YOUR PROGRESS. 16 Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Timothy had to Progress, grow into the calling on his life and so did the young shepherd boy David. God’s choice may not result in perfection straight away, but if we support those whom God has chosen, then we will see blessings. ‘You will save both yourself and your hearers’.
God may well call a new generation for these days to help bring in the final harvest of humanity. Young people who have a real heart for God need encouragement and support to fulfill their callings, which may appear daunting to them. We need to stand together and stand with those whom God will raise up in our day.
I tell you, now is the time of God’s Favour, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2
God bless and keep you today.