Be an EXAMPLE
Nothing is
more confusing than people who give good advice but set bad examples. Norman Vincent Peale
As a Christian you have a
testimony and that testimony is both to unbelievers and believers. To the unbeliever we should make the gospel
known by both word and deed. We should
live in a way to make the gospel attractive which definitely means not being
offensive. The message may very well
offend but the messenger should not. One
of the most important things we must do with the unbeliever is live with
integrity. We should have great
reputations of honesty and integrity with those who are lost.
With believers we are to have
testimony in which others can imitate. I
am a firm believer that people learn more by what they see than what they
hear. You must be consistent. In 1 Peter 5:1-4 Peter talks to elders about being shepherds
of God’s people and he says it is crucial to be examples. Notice the passage: “The elders who are among
you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder, and a witness of the suffering of
Christ, and a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you,
serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain
but eagerly, not as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples
to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown
of glory that does not fade away.” I
Peter 5:1-4
The root meaning of the word
“Being” is to engrave. It is the
signature of your soul.
I want to challenge you to be
an example to other Christians.
Take a moment and read these
verses spoken by the Apostle Paul:
"Therefore I urge you to
imitate me." (I Cor. 4:16)“Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” 1 Cor 11:1 (NKJV)
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ." NIV
"Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you. (Phil. 3:17)
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me - put it into practice.” (Phil. 4:9)
The Apostle Paul called for believers to imitate or follow him as he followed Christ. The Greek word is equivalent to our English word “mimic.”
Now as Paul was training Timothy to be a spiritual leader he called on him to be an example:
I Timothy 4:12 says, "Let no one look down on your youth,
but rather be an example for the believers in word, in conduct, life, in love,
in attitude, in faith and in purity."
Here we have 7 areas to be an
example to others with our lives.
First is our words
- our conversation reveals
character! Our words reveal who we
are. We can help others with our words
or we can hurt others with our words. We
can heal or we can harm.
One of the key verses on words is Eph. 4:29
from NIV “Do not let any unwholesome
talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up
according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Secondly is our conduct
or our daily behavior. Our actions
should always be to glorify God- to please Him.
One of the key verses on conduct is Phil. 1:27 Only let your conduct be
worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am
absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one
mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
We read in 1 Samuel 18:14 how David behaved
wisely in all his ways, and the LORD was with him.
Thirdly is our life or
better stated, our purpose with life. It
is what we are living for and what we are living for should be Christ and for
eternity. We should be an example that
Christ is first.
In Luke 2:49 we find that
Jesus Himself is a great example of having His life in order as He stated that
He must be about His father’s business.
Fourthly we are to be example
in love and as Christian our love for one another is the biggest thing
that distinguishes us. Jesus said
people would know we are His disciples by our love for one another. Loving people that are loveable is easy. When we really make our mark is when we love
those who are unlovely. The time a
person needs love the most is when they deserve it the least.
Fifth, we are to be examples
in our attitude. Your
attitude should be one that makes you enjoyable to be around. One of
the key verses on our attitude is Philippians 2:14 “Do all things without complaining
and disputing,”
Sixth, we are to be examples
of our faith expanding. We walk
by faith. There will be all types of
moment that will call for us to trust God with those moments. One of the key verses on faith is Heb.11:6 “But without faith it is impossible
to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that
He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”
Seventh, we are to be
examples of living lives of purity.
One of the things ways we live very differently is our lifestyle when it
comes to purity. We have a clear call
from Acts 15:29 that we abstain from... from sexual immorality.
Once again the full verse for I Timothy 4:12 says, "Let
no one look down on your youth, but rather be an example for the believers in
word, in conduct, life, in love, in attitude, in faith and in
purity." This is how we are to be an example - this is how we are to live so others know how to live.
One of my favorite poems on being an example says:
I'd rather have an example than a precept any day
I’d rather one would walk with me than merely show the way
The eyes is a better pupil and more willing than the ear
Fine counsel is confusing, but an example is always clear.
I soon can learn to do it if you let me see it done
I can match your hands in action, but your tongue too fast may run.
The lectures you deliver may be very wise and true
But I’d rather get my lessons by observing what you do;
I may not understand the high advice you give,
But there is no misunderstanding how you act and how you live.
So in conclusion are you an
example that others can follow? Will
they see Jesus in you and will they find you living like Him?
Continue Strong,
Dwayne
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