22 Jun, 2009

Youth Rules the U.S. Open

  The 109th U.S. Open is being held at Bethpage Golf Course in Long Island New York this week. The story for most of this famous golf tournament has been the weather. Play has been cancelled twice this week due to rain.

Along with the story of weather, however, has been the story of Ricky Barnes. A good amateur player, Ricky has never won a professional event yet he is leading the U.S. Open after 3 rounds. Not only that, he set the low 2 round record at 8 under par. This has never happened in 109 years of this tournament. There are also a handful of other twenty-somethings that are close to the lead as well.

Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and many other big name golfers are lagging behind Ricky and these young hopefuls just waiting for them to faulter on the last day of this tournament. The thought is that their youth and inexperience might make them faulter in the end. That may be true, but the fact remains that so far their youthful talent has prevailed. We'll wait and see what happens in the end.

1 Timothy 4:12 (NIV)

Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

What does God say about youth?

God doesn't hold our age against us. True, there are many things in life that come with age. There often are no shortcuts to the experiences that life affords us as we get older. However, God also expects good things from us when we are young as well.

Whether you're in elementary, middle, or high school, you can set an example for Christ. You can monitor your speech and encourage others to walk with God. Your faith and purity of life is often the example that spurs others interest in a relationship with Christ.

Like Ricky and the other young bucks in the U.S. Open, stand strong and represent your faith well.

  • Pray for the strength to be an example for Christ in your home this summer.
  • Be encouraging to your family (especially Dad this week!) and look for opportunities to model your faith in Christ.
  • Volunteer to help out with Vacation Bible School at your local church this summer or even a community project. Don't worry about feeling too young. It is often trusting God in these small opportunities that builds our faith in Him even stronger.
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