Living Examples

Our lives as believers in Jesus Christ aren’t to be done in private or outside the preview of others. We are never to live for ourselves; rather our lives are to be lived out in the open as an example, not only to other believers, but to the unbelievers as well.

The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “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” (1 Timothy 4:12).

In Titus 2:7-8, Paul said, “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you.”

The Apostle Peter tells us this very thing using Jesus as our example.

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who committed no sin, nor was deceit found in His mouth; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness.” (1 Peter 2:21-24)

As Jesus proceeded to wash the disciples’ feet He said, “If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you” (John 13:12-15).

Being an example isn’t easy; rather it is a life where suffering is a reality, just as it was for Jesus, but there will be joy as the writer of Hebrews says that for the joy set before Him, Jesus endured the suffering of the cross (Hebrews 12:2).

Let’s start being those living examples to this world.