“Follow my Example”
“My friends, I want you to follow my example and learn from others who closely follow the example we set for you.” (Php 3:17).
You are warmly welcome!
Example is a powerful teacher. Many of us are today what we saw and imitated yesterday; and be you sure someone is imitating you, at least partially. What qualities in you would you recommend them to imitate? And are there qualities you wish they ended with you and went no further? You think about your conduct or the length of your temper and some of you do NOT want anyone to imitate you. It is a challenge to say like Paul, “You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you...” (1Thess 2:10). The words used here are very high standards, and anyone possessing them will gladly say “imitate me”. Yet this is the place to which we are called as believers and mentors of others. If you are a parent or godparent, this is a vow you have made before at a baptism service.
The Apostle Paul recommends himself as a good example to the believers in Churches at Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica, and to all who he mentored like his son Timothy. Let us reflect on some particular strength aspects that were exemplary in Paul, and aspire to attain them to a level which we would gladly recommend others to imitate:
1. Conduct: He was not shy to describe his conduct as holy, righteous and blameless. Prophet Samuel was no less confident when he stood before a congregation and said, “Here I am; testify against me before the LORD and before his anointed. Whose ox have I taken? Or whose donkey have I taken? Or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed? Or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? Testify against me and I will restore it to you” (1Sam 12:3). And no one accused the Prophet. This may be a standard very high, but we must aim at it that we will be good examples.
2. Hard Work: Paul was a man acquainted with hard work, even when he was a full time minister. He had full moral authority to encourage believer to work… “For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. It was not because we do not have that right, but to give you in ourselves an example to imitate” (2Thess 3:7-9). There is no acceptable excuse – everyone is called to be a good steward, to work hard and be productive.
This list will be continued next Sunday; meanwhile, ask the Lord to sharpen in you those strengths that others need to imitate. God bless you.