Worthy Examples! (part 1 of 9)

WORTHY EXAMPLES! (part 1 of 9)
Up Or Down?

Paul encouraged the young evangelist, Timothy, with these words:
“(12) LET NO ONE DESPISE YOU FOR YOUR YOUTH, BUT SET THE BELIEVERS AN EXAMPLE in SPEECH, in CONDUCT, in LOVE, in FAITH, in PURITY. (13) Until I come, DEVOTE YOURSELF TO the public READING OF SCRIPTURE, to exhortation, to teaching. (14) DO NOT NEGLECT THE GIFT YOU HAVE, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. (15) PRACTICE THESE THINGS, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. (16) Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.” ( 1 Timothy 4:12-16 ESV)

To be despised might be to be looked down upon or thought less of. Paul urged Timothy to live a life that though he was young, would not be looked down upon. To be a bad example we can be looked down upon regardless of whether we are young or old. However, in the same way, being a GOOD EXAMPLE one can be looked up to even if they are young. We must each realize that our lives are examples of something. WE ARE BEING LOOKED TO! The question is: “Is it up?”

Some claim they do not want to be a role model and it is true there are many who should not be looked toward as such. Still, the fact remains there will be those who will follow them anyway. Thus we must understand the importance of being good role models. God has given us guidelines to enable us to be a PATTERN others can follow. If we claim to love God, then our lives say something about Him! If we profess to believe His Word, then our actions say something about it! If we wear the name of Christ as Christians, then we are modeling to others what His disciples are like.

Meditate on the above passage of Scripture and, Lord willing, over the next several days we will consider seven areas of life where we ought to strive toward being GOOD EXAMPLES. Then we will conclude with the importance of why we need to be EXAMPLES in these areas.

Have a great day MEDITATING ON GOD’S PATTERN for living!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 10/30/1999 (Edited some with passage changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Example