2 Timothy 2:22, "Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart."

Paul begins by telling us what to flee, which is youthful passions and desires.  The heart and mind of a young person most often isn't filled with godly desires.  They are typically filled with vanity and frivolity.

Now notice the list of things we should follow after:

• Follow righteousness: follow the righteousness of Christ, and right living.  Living in this manner is acceptable to God.

• Follow faith:  faith as in the sphere of what you believe and living life by having confidence in God. The Christian life is to be lived by faith.  Trusting both in God and His Word. 

• Follow charity:  or love, toward God and Christ, and toward His people; without which any and all of our spiritual gifts and deeds are practice with little or no avail (see 1 Corinthians 13:1-3).  Charity is love in action!  Are you demonstrating genuine love to Christ, and to others?

• Follow peace:  we are to pursue peace with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.  Those who are born again should be able to live in peace with others who are born again and living with a pure heart.  The word "pure" speaks of that which is clean.  It is easy to perceive when a person has a clean heart, it is also rather easy to perceive when their heart is dirty.

We have some things today to follow, and certainly we need to set aside youthful lusts.  Will you follow after right things with the right people?  I trust you will.

Your Friend and His,

Pastor Abbott

MEDITATIONS

1.  What would you say is the one thing you follow afterthe most?

2.  Are your priorities what they should be according to the Bible?  Explain.

3.  What kind of influences are you surrounded with?  Are they good or bad?