Dare to Lead

As a young person growing up in the Church of God, I was always fascinated by what I considered to be the heroism of those mentioned in the Bible, particularly the young people. I often wondered what made these young people so special to God that He would have them be mentioned in the greatest book of all time.

Over the years I have read many Bible stories about Daniel and his three companions, about David and Goliath, about a young Timothy, and I’ve always closed the book impressed by their resolution. And again, I never stopped pondering what made them stand out.

Outstanding examples

Then I thought about my youth growing up in the Church and the young people growing up in the Church today, and it occurred to me that there was a common thread. God called Daniel, David, Timothy and many other young people to be different, to stand out, to sometimes stand alone. God was calling them, daring them to lead!

It can be the same today. Those of us who take literally Paul’s command to “keep the feast” of Unleavened Bread (1 Corinthians 5:8) stand out. It can be quite intimidating to be the only one in your entire school, in some cases, to abstain from eating cakes, pastries and sandwiches and instead eat some strange dry-looking flat bread that no one else has even heard of.

But, believe it or not, God is actually asking you to dare to lead. To dare to be a pioneer in today’s society much the same way He asked Daniel, David and Timothy. God has allowed us a special insight into what these festivals mean and picture for our future. And this insight is not to just be stored away for safekeeping. It is for us to step out in front, be an example and lead the way!

Notice what God inspired the apostle Paul to write to the young man Timothy:

“But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 3:14-15).

Paul told Timothy to internalize what he had been taught and to act on that teaching in everything he did (2 Timothy 3:17). He dared Timothy to lead. We, too, must act upon what we’ve been taught, no matter where our educational or occupational goals may lead us. We, too, are being dared to lead.

Learning, answering and leading

So, how can you dare to lead? Leading is not always getting in front of the public and giving speeches, heading up a team project or even persuading others to follow you down a certain path. Being a leader often entails quiet examples of calmness and inner fortitude in tough and sometimes conflicting scenarios.

Leading, however, may at times call for being able to explain your rationale and reasoning. Peter explains, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

So, like Timothy, it is important for teens today to gain a familiarity with God’s Word and a working knowledge of its meaning so that when a question arises, we will be ready to give an answer.

This spring festival season, if you find that you are the only one in your school who will be participating in God’s festivals rather than this world’s holidays, consider that you are presented with another opportunity to stand up for not only your family and church tradition, but also for God. Dare to lead!

Peter M. Gabriel is a member of the Houston North congregation of the Church of God, a Worldwide Association. He is married and is the coordinator of the local congregation’s newsletter, the Houston North Periodical Pictorial.