Live higher than the voices want you to live at.

Do you know that feeling when someone is looking at you with disdain? It’s not only that they’re looking at you, but it feels like they are looking down at you. They have found something wrong with you, something they don’t like, you offend them, disappoint them perhaps, and they begin to list what it is you haven’t done or have done or even worse what you look like. There’s something wrong with you which disqualifies you from being or doing what God has called you to be and do. Do you know that feeling? Paul did and he gave Timothy some advice about it.

“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.” (1 Timothy 4 v 12)

This isn’t unique to Timothy’s generation. Even today Pastors and leaders face questions about their experience and capabilities; but Paul’s instruction reveals something profound for us. The problem isn’t Timothy’s age but it is people’s prejudice. How do we know? Because the answer isn’t for Timothy to wait till he is older and then be able to prove he is called. It is to respond in a way that is on a higher ground than the prejudicial level.

“Timothy don’t start to act older, don’t pretend, rather let your character do the talking.”

Paul is telling Timothy to live higher than the voices that are around him.

1. Watch what comes out of your mouth. Speak with wisdom, grace and truth. Don’t give people further ammunition by allowing outbursts of anger to flow. Learn to apologise.
2. Acts differently, act like Christ as much as you can.
3. Learn agape. People need love more than experience. It is hard to describe agape but when it isn’t there in the conversations and actions within church then you know what it is.
4. Trust God. Lean into Him. Go to Him before you go to others for help.
5. Walk clean.

Let me add 2 more based on the above:-

•  Focus on what you can control.
• Excellence is the best defence.

The voices around you are pulling you down to a level you are not called to live at. Go higher today. Live higher. God is calling and lifting you there.