[Jeremiah wrote about his encounter with God:] The Lord said to me, "I knew you before you were formed within your mother's womb; before you were born I sanctified you and appointed you as My spokesman to the world." Then said I: "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth."

   "Don't say that," He replied, "for you will go wherever I send you and speak whatever I tell you to. And don't be afraid of the people, for I, the Lord, will be with you and see you through." Then He touched my mouth and said, "See, I have put My words in your mouth . . . Don't be afraid of them, or else I will make a fool of you in front of them."

   [Timothy was a young man whom Paul took under his wing. Paul wrote to him:] "Oh, Timothy, my son, be strong with the strength Christ Jesus gives you. For you must teach others those things you and many others have heard me speak about. Teach these great truths to trustworthy men who will, in turn, pass them on to others. Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity."

   [Little Samuel was helping the Lord by assisting Eli the priest.] Messages from the Lord were very rare in those days, but one night after Eli had gone to bed (he was almost blind with age by now), and Samuel was sleeping in the temple near the Ark, the Lord called out, "Samuel! Samuel!" . . . Then the Lord said to Samuel, "I am going to do a shocking thing in Israel. I am going to do all of the dreadful things I warned Eli about. I have continually threatened him and his entire family with punishment because his sons are blaspheming God, and he doesn't stop them. So I have vowed that the sins of Eli and of his sons shall never be forgiven by sacrifices and offerings."

   Samuel stayed in bed until morning, then opened the doors of the temple as usual, for he was afraid to tell Eli what the Lord had said to him. But Eli called him. "My son," he said, "what did the Lord say to you? Tell me everything. And may God punish you if you hide anything from me!" So Samuel told him what the Lord had said. "It is the Lord's will," Eli replied; "let Him do what He thinks best."

Taken from Jer. 1, II Tim. 2, I Tim. 4, I Sam. 3, The Living Bible and The New King
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