Be An Example
Don't you just love it when God spells out exactly what he expects of us - in simple language with no question as to what He means? Some days I think He understands how thick-minded and stubborn I can be. Those are the days when He gives it to me as plainly as possible.
When I struggle with the endurance to keep up my witness and my testimony, the Lord gives me this simple Word that gives an outline for how to live in the world.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Speaking through Paul, God gives us a list - an actual list - of how to be an example that reflects Him.
- In word: everything that comes out of our mouth should reflect the Spirit living inside us.
- In conversation: the way we live and the choices we make, even in the little things.
- In charity: love that is patterned after the love Christ showed.
- In spirit: our very essence and temperament, now changed forever by the glory of God.
- In faith: standing firm on the foundation of the Word.
- In purity: choosing the things of God over the things of the world.
And it's not a checklist. We don't work our way through and decide we've got it all figured out. This example is something that has to be worked through day by day, sometimes hour by hour depending on the circumstances. But this is the list God has laid out so His children will shine His light into the world.
As we go forth into the day Jesus Christ died for us to have, I pray we will each use this list as a guide for how we approach each moment. We will encounter believers who need an example and we will be surrounded by unbelievers who are watching all that we are.
Be an example of the believer that the Lord would delight in.
When I struggle with the endurance to keep up my witness and my testimony, the Lord gives me this simple Word that gives an outline for how to live in the world.
Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12
Speaking through Paul, God gives us a list - an actual list - of how to be an example that reflects Him.
- In word: everything that comes out of our mouth should reflect the Spirit living inside us.
- In conversation: the way we live and the choices we make, even in the little things.
- In charity: love that is patterned after the love Christ showed.
- In spirit: our very essence and temperament, now changed forever by the glory of God.
- In faith: standing firm on the foundation of the Word.
- In purity: choosing the things of God over the things of the world.
And it's not a checklist. We don't work our way through and decide we've got it all figured out. This example is something that has to be worked through day by day, sometimes hour by hour depending on the circumstances. But this is the list God has laid out so His children will shine His light into the world.
As we go forth into the day Jesus Christ died for us to have, I pray we will each use this list as a guide for how we approach each moment. We will encounter believers who need an example and we will be surrounded by unbelievers who are watching all that we are.
Be an example of the believer that the Lord would delight in.
Comments
Post a Comment