Prove to be an Example (9-4-12)

1 Timothy 4:12 - "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."

There is a common idea running through the books of First and Second Thessalonians, First and Second Timothy, and Titus, and that is the idea of being an example. The idea is that our lives should so reflect Christ that no one will be in doubt as to whether or not we are saved. The apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 - "You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." In this verse we see the progression of how the Thessalonian believers became an example to others. Paul says that they became imitators "of us and of the Lord." The word Christian literally means "little Christ." When the word was first made up in the first century it was used by the enemies of Christ as a reproach, or a derogatory term, but the followers of Christ embraced this term. Others thought they were insulting them, but there is nothing more joyous for us as followers of Christ than to be considered a "little Christ." This is what the Thessalonians were becoming. They were following the examples of Paul and Silas and Timothy, who were all following the example of Christ. And as a result, they were becoming examples to others.

Christ is the ultimate example. Again and again in the New Testament we're instructed to follow His example. Jesus Himself said in John 13:15 - "For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you." In Philippians 2:5 we're told to - "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus." In Colossians 3:13 it says - "Just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." And we could go to passage after passage in every book of the New Testament and point out the example that Christ has set for us to follow. Ultimately it is our goal to be like Him, and we know that one day soon we will be like Him for we shall see Him as He is (1 John 3:2). But as it is right now, being Christlike is such a lofty goal, and it seems hopeless. How can we follow the example of God incarnate, the perfect sinless Son of God? All believers have this common goal, and we are not all on the same level as far as attaining it goes. There are people getting saved everyday and once we're saved we are just babies in the faith. But no matter where we are in our relationship with God, we always have people that we can look up to as an example of the way that Christ would act in a given situation. Sometimes we can't see Christ clearly and we need someone with skin on to set the Christlike example for us. This is what Paul was talking about when he said to the Thessalonians "you also became imitators of us and of the Lord." Paul and his companions were imitating Christ and following His example, and when the Thessalonians began imitating them, they were naturally imitating Christ. Paul said in Philippians 3:17 - "Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us." It takes a lot of discipline to be able to confidently tell someone to follow your example. Or to say like he said to the Corinthians in chapter 11 verse 1 - "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." If your going to tell someone to follow you as you follow Christ, you had better be following him with everything you've got. And Paul could confidently say that this is exactly what he was doing. Not that he was perfect, but he had learned to die to himself and allow Christ to live His life through him. The eyes of his faith were exercised to see the invisible, so that he was striving to live his life completely for the things that would withstand the fire at the Judgment seat of Christ, when all our works will be tried by fire and only that which has eternal value will last.
Paul had disciplined himself to live as an example to others. He says in 2 Corinthians 1:12 - "For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you." And he says again in 2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 - "For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example."
The Thessalonians could testify that Paul and his companions had been an example for them. We read in 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - "You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." He says that they were witnesses, but more astounding than that, he says that God was witness to the fact that they were behaving themselves devoutly, uprightly and blamelessly. That's what we're striving for.

But at whatever stage you are in your Christian walk, there is always someone who looks up to you, and uses you as an example of Christ. How do you portray Him? Can you say to those around you "Be imitators of me as I also am of Christ"? There are unbelievers who are watching you to see how Christians react to trying circumstances. There are younger believers who are looking to you to see how a mature believer handles a given situation. Are you a Christlike example for others to follow. I am convinced that Paul was constantly aware that others were watching him, and so he gives the testimony in Acts 24:16 - "In view of this, I also do my best to maintain always a blameless conscience both before God and before men." Can you honestly say that? Do you do your best to maintain always a blameless conscience before God and men? It's not easy. If you make it your goal to live this way it will even mean sometimes giving up your rights in order to be an example. That's what we see in the Lord Jesus' example. Philippians 2:5-8 tells us - "Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." Christ gave up His rights as the eternal Son of God. He didn't have to become a man, He didn't have to take the form of a servant, He didn't have to die on a cross, but He did it out of love for us and for His Father, and in this He set an example for us to follow.

One of the most obvious ways we show ourselves to be examples is by our good works. We read in Titus 2:7-8 - "in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us." We're told to be an example of good works in all things. In every area of our lives we should prove to be an example, no exceptions. It's not like we show ourselves to be examples of good deeds on Sunday through Thursday, but we have Friday and Saturday off. No. At all times and in all things we are to be examples. Like I've said, if we really strive to live this way we're going to be challenged, and it will be difficult, but it's what we're called to do. The verse above reminds me of a chapter in the life of Daniel. This is another example for us to follow. Daniel was in a pagan land serving a pagan king alongside a bunch of pagans who hated him. But Daniel disciplined himself to live a life that was pleasing to God, in spite of the consequences. In Daniel chapter 6 the wise men that Daniel was working with were trying to come up with a way to get rid of him. We read in Daniel 6:4-5 - "Then the commissioners and satraps began trying to find a ground of accusation against Daniel in regard to government affairs; but they could find no ground of accusation or corruption, inasmuch as he was faithful, and no negligence or corruption was found in him. Then these men said, “We will not find any ground of accusation against this Daniel unless we find it against him with regard to the law of his God.”" The only way they could figure out to trap him was by making it illegal to serve the one true God. Not only did Daniel live a blameless life, but he was also so consistent in his walk with God that they knew even if they made it illegal to pray to God he would do it, even if it cost him his life. What a testimony! And he didn't start living this way when he was 60 years old, he determined when he was just a kid that he was going to honor God, and prove to be an example.
And that's the exhortation that Paul gives to Timothy in 1 Timothy 4:12 - "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."

1 Timothy 4:15 - "Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all."