Be a Good Example

• Paris Ragan
• Christian Living
• 0 comments
• November 09, 2017

“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” (I Tim. 4:12).

Over the past several weeks, I have been considering a new thought: Do our young people have to be dominated by sin? I believe we all know that the answer to this is an emphatic no! However, if you would ask this question to most parents, or even to most youth pastors, a common response would be, “Well, they are just young, and this is a phase that they are going to have to go through.” I believe this response is far from reality.

Jesus said, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (Jn. 8:32). This was not a statement that was delivered to a certain class of people, a certain gender, or a certain age group. The funny thing about truth is that it is impartial. Truth can find its way into the hearts of the black and the white, males and females, poor and rich, and young and old.

When we hear such statements like, “They are just young, and this is a phase,” I think we must take up arms! God is capable of doing whatsoever He pleases, and the last thing I ever want to do is set a limitation for Him. It’s the heart of unbelief that says, “God cannot” and “I do not believe.”

I believe that God is going to move in a mighty way among our youth today. I believe that He is going to save them by the thousands, baptize them with His mighty Holy Spirit, heal some of them, and set them free from the bondages of sin!

This brings me to the passage that I have provided above, “Let no man despise thy youth.” In keeping with context, Paul was making this statement to Timothy. At this time, Timothy was pastoring a church in Ephesus, and it is believed that he was somewhere in his 30s. In this passage, the word youth indicates someone who is in the stage of their youthfulness. At that time, this term was used to describe a person until he was 30 years old, but it also applied to those younger. Paul says don’t let anyone “despise,” which literally means “to think down upon, scorn, hold in contempt, and not care for because it is thought to be without value.” At that time, Timothy was looked down on by others due to his youth. Does this apply to any of you reading this today? Is there someone who is looking down upon you just because you are young? In essence, Paul is saying, “Don’t let anyone push you around and dictate your attitude and life.”

Here is what Paul wants young believers in faith to do today: Be an example! He’s saying to possess certain characteristics, prove to be, and turn out to be an example. What is an example? It is simply an impression. When we try out for a sports team or go on a job interview, we all want to make a good impression. We want people to remember us in a good way. That is what an example is—an impression that no one can forget because it leaves a mark on them. I want to be able to leave a good impression on people as an example for Jesus Christ, and that is how we all should be.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN YOUR SPEECH
The apostle Paul said to first be a good example in speech. Speech is something said and describes the communication whereby the mind finds expression in words.

Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.” The question is, what is coming out of your mouth? Is it pleasing to God, or does it oppose the nature of God?

Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.”

James 3:8-10 says, “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

So, we have to be careful what we say because our speech should express the glory of God.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN YOUR CONDUCT
The word conduct literally means “daily behavior.”

Ephesians 4:22-24 says, “That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; and be renewed in the spirit of your mind; and that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”

In this passage, Paul is telling the Ephesian believers to stop living in accordance with their former lives, before they knew the Lord. They were instructed to live their lives according to the rule and reign of Jesus Christ in their hearts. How you conduct yourself at school, on the job, with your family, and in the locker room will make a huge difference in your testimony before your peers.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN YOUR LOVE
Love should be a defining characteristic in the child of God. The kind of love used here is what the world cannot comprehend or understand. This type of love—agape love—is unconditional and sacrificial in nature. It does not care for its own good and neither does it try to. Agape love is only concerned with the affairs of others; it reaches out and lays its life down for their good.

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE IN YOUR FAITH
What you believe will be exhibited in your daily living. If you are servant of Christ, then you should be devoted to who He is and what He has done—you need to be sold out to Christ! Be an example of faith to those around you. Believe God for the impossible!

BE A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PURITY
This is a call to holiness. Paul exhorts Timothy to be holy: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation” (I Pet. 1:15).

In all manner of conversation, you are instructed to be holy. This literally means “to be pure of defilement and uncontaminated” and describes the quality of moral purity. This does not just deal with sinful acts, but also the motives behind those acts, as well. God has called us to holiness. Whether we are young or old, God expects us to live out this lifestyle as a testimony of His grace and His mercy. And the way that we conduct ourselves makes a huge difference in our testimonies.

So remember, despite your age, God has called you to be a good example for Jesus Christ!

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