Youth

In today's world there is this dangerious fad that says, if your not young, your a looser. Just look back at some of the unbelieveably ignorant commentary and conversation on the 2008 election and you can see that this fad is alive and well. Knowing this, I am still going to post this observation.

Reading through the gospels in my devotions has been a bit different lately. I am now 37 years old and reading about Jesus has a really different twist the farther past the ages of 30-33 I get. As a young person it is easy to look up to Jesus as a person who is older. As a young adult you feel a certain amount of connection with the gospels because Jesus is your age. I always felt like I was reading about a peer. But, now that I am older, I am noticing other things.

First, I consider the self-discipline, drive, courage, and obedience of Jesus, and I compare it to the same features in my self at 31 or 32. Wow, Jesus was really perfect. I thought I was so mature and ready to do great things. Actually, I was a bit arrogant and over confident. Second, I am stunned at some of his actions. A 31 year old single guy with no intentions of wife or family, but a great ministry mission to change the world, is taking up babies and children in his arms to bless them. Third, this young guy is rebuking the teachers of his day who are considerably older than he is.

These things never really hit me with the emotion that they are hitting me now. Now I am four years past the age when Jesus died. I have kids and some gray hair. I am getting a new perspective on Jesus and I am finding him more amazing with each new discovery.