"Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example ..." (1 Timothy 4:12, NIV)

Recently, I was listening to a man speak at a church. He was probably in his mid-60's. He was talking about doing more with our lives and living every day like it's your last. Something he said that really made me think was, "The older I've gotten, the more radical I've become." Then he went on to add, "Oh, what I would give to be 20 again."

I remember for the longest time I had the misconception that I needed a beard, gray hair and a bunch of life experience for God to really use me. I thought I needed to read the Bible way more and become really religious before I could be in a place for God to work through me. But what God looks for is not necessarily a wise older person or someone who is young and passionate. Age doesn't matter to God.

What God deems as usable and what we view as perfect candidates are way different from one another. We're attracted to intelligence, eloquent speech, talent, beauty and popularity, but God simply desires one thing -- obedience.

A lot of people seem to fit into a "perfect for the job" category, but when the Word of God puts them to the test, they fail. A relationship with God is not a talent show for everyone to see how awesome we are, but it is a mirror for others to look into and see the love of God.

Here are some ways Jesus described what a true follower looks like: "Then he said to them all: ‘If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it'" (Luke 9:23-24, NIV).

"As Jesus was saying these things, a woman in the crowd called out, ‘Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.' He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it'" (Luke 11:27-28, NIV).

God wants you to know His love. He wants to show you who you are really meant to be, and He wants to show you right now. If you are sick of the usual, tired of the mundane and ready to explode from boredom; if you're broken, imperfect, screwed up and dysfunctional (which is probably all of us) you're a prime candidate.

Your eyes have been opened to see that everything the world gives you tastes like honey going down but leaves you bitter inside. You are meant to know the goodness of God. God didn't take Adam and Eve directly to heaven with Him but rather created a paradise on Earth for them. You and I were created for intimacy with the Truth. John 14: 6 says, "Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way and the TRUTH and the life!'" The character of God is Truth, but the character of the devil is lies. And John 8:44 says, "You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies!"

Sin is not who we are but is the character of the devil. Jesus died on the cross to give us His salvation so we could become who we were always meant to be. (Galatians 4:3-7)

Be encouraged! Seek after God with all your heart and you will find Him. And when you find Him you will be changed and in turn, you will change the world around you.