Do not waste time arguing over godless ideas and old wives’ tales. Instead, train yourself to be godly. Physical training is good, but training for godliness is much better, promising benefits in this life and in the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it. This is why we work hard and continue to struggle, for our hope is in the living God, who is the Savior of all people and particularly of all believers. Teach these things and insist that everyone learn them. Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.
1st Timothy 4:7-12 NLT
As Christians, we know we are to be an example to those around us. True...but an example of what? If we were to ask a group what that meant, we would get answers such as Walk in love. Don't get angry. Do everything with a good attitude. And those are true. All scriptural. And the world sees those attributes as somewhat innocuous. They think Christians should be inoffensive and harmless... non-confrontational...
Somehow, that's not the picture I have of Jesus when He cleared the temple with a cat o' nine tails. It's not the picture I have of Jesus when He stood before Pilate, with a crown of thorns on His head, having been beaten and whipped until He was unrecognizable, and yet He answered, "You have no power over Me..."
In our text for today, Paul writes to Timothy, Be an example... The transliteration of the word for example is typos (pronounced too' pohs). It means "1) the mark of a stroke or blow, print, or 2) a figure formed by a blow or impression (of an image or figure)." Does that seem innocuous to you?
I am overwhelmed with the images that come to mind in the Light of this, not the least of which are the nail prints in His hands and feet. His love left marks on His own body. Have we pressed in close enough that they've left an impression on us? Are His marks of love so deep in us that we make an imprint on someone else?
We are to be an example to all believers in what we say, in the way we live, in our love, our faith, and our purity. We must leave a mark.
Prayer:
Father,
As Christians, we know we are to be an example to those around us. True...but an example of what? If we were to ask a group what that meant, we would get answers such as Walk in love. Don't get angry. Do everything with a good attitude. And those are true. All scriptural. And the world sees those attributes as somewhat innocuous. They think Christians should be inoffensive and harmless... non-confrontational...
Somehow, that's not the picture I have of Jesus when He cleared the temple with a cat o' nine tails. It's not the picture I have of Jesus when He stood before Pilate, with a crown of thorns on His head, having been beaten and whipped until He was unrecognizable, and yet He answered, "You have no power over Me..."
In our text for today, Paul writes to Timothy, Be an example... The transliteration of the word for example is typos (pronounced too' pohs). It means "1) the mark of a stroke or blow, print, or 2) a figure formed by a blow or impression (of an image or figure)." Does that seem innocuous to you?
I am overwhelmed with the images that come to mind in the Light of this, not the least of which are the nail prints in His hands and feet. His love left marks on His own body. Have we pressed in close enough that they've left an impression on us? Are His marks of love so deep in us that we make an imprint on someone else?
We are to be an example to all believers in what we say, in the way we live, in our love, our faith, and our purity. We must leave a mark.
Prayer:
Father,
Pray, let the borrowed words of the great hymn writer, Horatius Bonar, be ours today. Great Master, teach us with Your skillful hand; Let not the music that is in us die! Great Sculptor, hew and polish us; nor let hidden and lost, Your form within us lie!
According to Your Word in Ephesians 2:10, we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared in advance for us to do. Shape us and mold us into Your image, to do Your will, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
According to Your Word in Ephesians 2:10, we are Your workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which You prepared in advance for us to do. Shape us and mold us into Your image, to do Your will, O God. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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