Dear brothers and sisters,
Loving greetings in the name of our lord Jesus
Christ. Today let us see about the importance of setting examples
before others on this earth so that the name of the lord will
not be defiled. Following the example of Jesus Christ the Master
and Apostle Paul we must also try to set example before the people.
Apostle Paul says in 1 Cor 11:1 & 2, “Follow my example,
as I follow the example of Christ. I praise you for remembering
me in everything and for holding to the teachings, just as I passed
them on to you.”
Our Lord Jesus Christ set a model for us to follow
as in 1 Pet 2:21, “To this you were called, because Christ
suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow
in his steps. 1 Pet 2:22, “He committed no sin, and no deceit
was found in his mouth." 1 Pet 2:23, ‘When they hurled
their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered,
he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges
justly.”
Jesus Christ humbled himself before his disciples
and washed their feet as in John 13:14, “Now that I, your
Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash
one another's feet.” Jesus Christ did this to set a model
for us to follow his example as in John 13:15, “I have set
you an example that you should do as I have done for you.”
We have to do this since no servant is greater than the master
as in John 13:16, “I tell you the truth, no servant is greater
than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent
him.”
Apostle Paul says that he was patient even in
sufferings as Jesus Christ did as in 2 Cor 1:6, “If we are
distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted,
it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance
of the same sufferings we suffer.” Also he says that he
was not a burden to any one of the believers as in 2 Th 3:7 &
8, “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our
example. We were not idle when we were with you, vs.8, nor did
we eat anyone's food without paying for it. On the contrary, we
worked night and day, laboring and toiling so that we would not
be a burden to any of you.”
What all the areas apostle Paul wants the young
pastor’s to set examples before others?
There are some nine areas apostle Paul advices Timothy and Titus
to be an example before the believers. They are 1. In speech,
2. In life, 3. In love, 4. In faith, 5. In purity, 6. In doing
what is good, 7. In showing integrity, 8. and seriousness, 9.
Soundness of speech which is above every reproach as in as in
1 Tim 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because
you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech,
in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” Also in Titus
2:7 & 8, “In everything set them an example by doing
what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness vs.8,
“and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that
those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing
bad to say about us.”
May the Lord help each one of us to live an exemplary
life before all so that the name of the lord will not be abused
by our life. Amen.
Your Web-Site Pastor,
Rev.
Dr. T. Marcus Devasahayam
Web-site: www.barodabibleclub.org
e-mail: marcusbbc@yahoo.com
Mobile: 91-9327243600 ,Church 3096882 / 5540651.
Res : 3, 2nd floor, Arpita Complex, Priyalaxmi Mills Road, Vadodara
– 390003, Gujarat, India, Phone:91-265-2335651.
