Genesis 8:21
And the Lord smelled a soothing aroma. Then the Lord said in His heart, “I will never again curse the ground for man’s sake, although the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; nor will I again destroy every living thing as I have done.
INSIGHT
-Youth is written as naar in Hebrew & it’s define as stripling, youngster, juvenility, girlhood, boyhood, adolescence, maidenhood, lad & early manhood. Youth can be referred to as the time of life when one is young & is in between childhood & adulthood.
-Noah offered a pleasing sacrifice to the Lord, which the Hebrews call the sacrifice of rest & the Lord swore never to destroy the earth with a flood again. God describes man’s heart & mind as evil from his youth considering what had happened before the flood & what would happen during the time of Sodom & Gomorra. This is echoed in Jeremiah 17:9-10, where the Lord says “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, even to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his doings”. Jesus recognizes children as pure, undefiled, innocent & said, “unless you are converted & become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mat 18:3). It is through Gods throne of grace that we acquire mercy & grace to help us in times of need.
PRAYER
We give You honour & praise Father, for You are the only true God. We thank You for have seen this new day with the realization that many desired to see but they could not. Search our hearts & minds, Lord & remove what is not of Your Kingdom. Help the youth all over the world to abstain from homosexuality, lesbianism, drug addiction, fornication, adultery, prostitution, pornography, masturbation, stealing, covetousness & other evil vices. Cleanse the whole world from all unrighteousness & help us to overcome evil desires. May Your grace & mercy abound in us now & forever. Amen
Proverbs 10:4-5
He who has a slack hand becomes poor, But the hand of the diligent makes rich. He who gathers in summer is a wise son; He who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame.
INSIGHT
-King Solomon in his wise inspirations denotes that a wise son is diligent & industrious. He discerns time & seasons to gather in summer while the inane son; in his laziness sleeps when others are harvesting & brings shame to the society. He also recognises the behaviour of an ant which has no captain, overseer or ruler. It provides its supplies in summer & gathers up food during harvest time. In this context he explains how laziness makes one poor & diligence makes the other rich (Prov 6:6-11). It is important to leave an inheritance ones children’s children who of course start on a high (Prov 13:22). God plays a major part in ones well being for His blessings makes one rich & He adds no sorrows to it (Prov 10:22).
PRAYER
We humbly come before You Father, asking for Your mercy & grace in our lives & families. Give us wisdom to be diligent in our work & bless the work of our hands. Lead us in the right direction & proffer upon us good health to enjoy what we have. We lay our hearts in Your hands for we are Your sons, hear our prayers. Amen
Malachi 2:14-16
Yet you say, “For what reason?” Because the Lord has been witness between you and the wife of your youth, With whom you have dealt treacherously; Yet she is your companion And your wife by covenant. But did He not make them one, Having a remnant of the Spirit? And why one? He seeks godly offspring. Therefore take heed to your spirit, And let none deal treacherously with the wife of his youth. “For the Lord God of Israel says That He hates divorce, For it covers one’s garment with violence,” Says the Lord of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit, That you do not deal treacherously.”
INSIGHT
-During the time of Malachi, foreign intermarriage & divorce were prevalent. God gave breath (ruach) which is also the spirit to Adam & from Adam’s rib; Eve came to being, having a remnant of the Spirit, making them one in marriage. God also seeks a godly offspring for an unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, the unbelieving wife sanctified by the husband; who effectively sanctify their children (1 Cor 7:14). God instructs that He hates divorce which is opposed to the peace of Christ, the head of the church in which we marry (unite in Him).
PRAYER
Lord our Father, have mercy on the marriages all over the world. Bless all those who are yet to be united in marriage & help those in marriage. Answer the prayers of all those who are childless, uphold those marriages at the verge of divorce, hear the prayers of all those who are divorced & all widows. May Your peace which surpasses all understanding fill every household; forever. Amen
1 Timothy 4:12
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.
INSIGHT
-Apostle Paul advices the youth not to speak & act in such a manner that others may despise them on account of their age. He instructs the youth to be of good conduct & speak words that edify Christ, with a focus on spiritual virtues of love, faith & purity. With the love of God & neighbour as one self, all these spiritual virtues are covered for love is the greatest fruit.
PRAYER
Instruct the youth all over the world Father, with Your love that their words & conduct may be proper in Your eyes & the eyes of men. We submit all our weaknesses to You Jesus, for You are the only one who can help us. May Your Spirit fill us with Your wisdom so that our choices may always edify Your holy name. We give You thanks & praise You now & forever. Amen
Luke 15:12-14
And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living. But when he had spent all, there arose a severe famine in that land, and he began to be in want.
INSIGHT
-The parable of the prodigal son describes the character of two young brothers with parallel mind-set’s. The younger brother asked for his inheritance & squandered it in prodigal living. The parable explains how youth in their pleasures can clear off their inheritance in the enjoyment of life which mostly happens once the parent(s) have passed on where most inheritance is accessed. This son was clothed in the best robe, a ring & sandals when he returned to his father, all of which have unique symbols but the general feel is son-ship. The elder son on the other hand was patient & maybe unaware that he had an inheritance in the first place. He is seen asking one servant what was happening during the party & did not welcome the idea. The parable generally portrays the everlasting love & forgiveness of our Father.
SUMMARY
Youth is stage in life when one is between childhood & adulthood. After the flood; God reveals what is in His heart, that during a person’s youth, his imaginations of the heart are evil, at the same time giving a message of restoration to the world. The youth are encouraged to be diligent in word & conduct; bearing love, faith & purity by the help of the Holy Spirit. Hardworking & diligence is also encouraged among the youth for those who are lazy will become poor but those who are focused on their vision; rich. They are encouraged to invest their time wisely & discern time & seasons to take hold of viable opportunities. God discourages anyone from dealing treacherously with his youthful wife for He hates divorce. He also seeks godly offspring’s & reveals that the unbelieving wife is sanctified by her husband, an unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife who in turn purify their children. Lastly, Christ is our sanctification & through His throne of grace; we acquire mercy & grace.
PRAYER
For the sake of His sorrowful passion, have mercy on all the youth; Lord & the whole world. For all our sins & the sins of all the youth; forgive us Father. Lead us in Your wisdom that our choices may be justified. Instill in us Your fruit that we may always be directed in Your grace. All glory, honour & praise belong to You Father, forever. Amen