Are You Fleeing Youthful Lusts?...Are Your Friends Helping?

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.

In this verse Paul is talking to Timothy about what it means to be a soldier of Christ. Always before when I have read this verse, I automatically think about it applying to young men. But, today as I was reading this scripture, I began to think about how this scripture can apply to all of us, especially in a society that seems to want to perpetuate our youth. This verse says to flee youthful lusts(desires). What were some of your youthful desires? What were the things in your youth that kept you from maturing, especially as a christian? Was it a constant desire for pleasure? Was it foolishness, sexual lusts, self centeredness, lack of discipline, being consumed with friends, music that did not edify you, peer pressure? Are these things still affecting your life? Think about it. Are your youthful desires still affecting you? Run! Flee! Follow righteousness, faith, charity, and peace! "With them..." The Bible doesn't just tell us what to do, but who to do it with! Are your friends helping you or hindering you? Is it easy to be foolish, deny your responsibilities, etc. when you are around them? This verse says to follow after God, not by ourselves, but with those that have a pure heart and know how to call on the Lord. Not just people who say they are Christians, but those who truly have a heart for God and seek for more of Him. So, think about what your desires were as a teenager and compare them to your desires today. Think about what changes you (we) need to make to be a more effective soldier of Christ and ask Him to help you.