Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12
There's a letter in the New Testament called First Timothy. It was written by the Apostle Paul to his young protégé who was going to take over pastoring the church in Ephesus. Timothy was young, barely 30 years old, and quite inexperienced. But Paul lets him know that though you may be lacking in education or experience, the one thing you can always be is a role model.
Over the next two days, I’m going to challenge the next generation to be a role model to those coming behind them. There are four specific ways to be a role model, and we’re going to discuss each of those in detail. We’ll start with two today and finish out with two more tomorrow.
The first way to become a role model is to model a lifestyle for God. Paul specifically gives young Timothy five areas where he should set the example and where we should all set the example. He said that we should be an example - “...in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity “ (I Timothy 4:12).
Paul covers all of his bases with this statement as he includes these five areas in which to be a role model. When we strive to set an example for others by the way we speak, the way we act, the way we love, the way we exercise our faith, and the way we pursue purity, people are going to notice. And we’ll be able to point others to Jesus because we’re exemplifying the kind of life we’re called to live according to Scripture.
The second way to become a role model is to magnify the Word of God. I want to ask you a question and encourage you to answer it honestly. Do you read your Bible? Do you apply it? Do you use it? Are you leading your family, your kids, and everyone you have influence over to know that the supreme authority for the way we ought to live and what we ought to believe is the Word of God?
I firmly believe the two worst things you can do with the Bible are not to burn it or throw it in the garbage, but rather to leave it unopened and leave it unused. Every chance we get, we should be teaching and preaching God’s Word to others. When we magnify the Word of God to others, we’re choosing to be the kind of role model that God is calling us to be.
I pray you’ll come back tomorrow as we discuss two more ways to be a godly role model for future generations.
Dear Lord, thank you for the opportunity you give me each day to point others to you. I pray that I wouldn’t take that opportunity lightly and that I would be a godly role model to others by modeling a godly lifestyle and magnifying your Word. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Discipleship
