Being an Example

In 1st Timothy chapter four, Paul tells Timothy, who was his young protégé?, if you would, he?s going to succeed him in the ministry he is a young evangelist, he is going out preaching and teaching. Verse twelve tells Timothy, ?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. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you. Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.?

I want you to know, that when it comes to being an example, age does not matter. Age does not matter! You can be a great example. I look you and I know this is true, because you are an example to me. Because you are not afraid to believe in God and live in a world that might reject God. And that?s tough within itself. There are few good examples out there in the world in which we live, so we all need to make sure that we are being good examples.

So, in this letter Paul is letting Timothy know that people around him that he will be serving, will have the tendency to look down on him and condescending towards him because he is young, and Paul tells him not to let anyone do this. In other words, ?Even though you are younger than most of the people around you, do not let that make you think that you cannot make a difference.? He wanted to tell Timothy this because he knew that he was going to have to work to gain the respect of people, because he did not the experience that age brings. See, in his culture, and most cultures, if you do not have age, then you didn?t have experience. You would have to earn the respect.

Do the best that you can no matter what it is because you yourself will be an example, people will recognize that, and people are attracted to that. That is what God is calling us all to be - examples.

In Speech: Be like David, he was an optimist, even in tough times he spoke with a good attitude.
~ 1st Samuel 17:45-46, "David said to the Philistine, "You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. This day the LORD will hand you over to me, and I'll strike you down and cut off your head. Today I will give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the beasts of the earth, and the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel."
~ 2nd Samuel 12:22, ?He answered, ?While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept. I thought, 'Who knows? The LORD may be gracious to me and let the child live.'?

In Life: Be like Joshua, he was known for his stance in his life.
Joshua 24:14-15, ?Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your forefathers worshiped beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. 15 But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your forefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD."

In Love: Be like Esther, her love for her people drove her to do what could have killed her.
Esther 4:16, "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my maids will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

In Faith: Be like Peter, he always took the initiative to do something for Jesus.
John 18:10, "Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear."
Matthew 14:25-28 ?During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. ?It's a ghost,? they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: ?Take courage! It is I. Don't be afraid.? ?Lord, if it's you,? Peter replied, ?tell me to come to you on the water.??

In Purity: Be like Joseph, he lived his entire life in a state of purity.
"So he left in Joseph's care everything he had; with Joseph in charge, he did not concern himself with anything except the food he ate. Now Joseph was well-built and handsome, and after a while his master's wife took notice of Joseph and said, 'Come to bed with me!' But he refused."

We are called to be examples, NO MATTER HOW OLD YOU ARE.

~ Charles.