WHO IS YOUR EXAMPLE?
“For yourselves know how ye ought to imitate us; for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you; neither did we eat bread for nought at any man’s hand, but in labor and travail, working night and day, that we might not burden any of you: not because we have not the right but to make ourselves an ensample unto you, that ye should imitate us” (2 Thess. 3:7-9).
Webster’s definition of “example”. “A pattern; a model or copy; an illustration.” In the New Testament the word comes from: “in writing; an underwriting; to write under, to trace letters for coping. Hence a writing copy, an example.”
It is easy to move this figure over to the human behavior. From birth, much of what we learn, we learn from example. As parents, teachers, leaders, how many times do we say, “let me show you how” or “just do like I do.” As this helps to mold us physically and socially, may we recognize the effect that example has on us Spiritually.
There are only two kind of examples. Good or Bad! We must be careful what we follow. It is sometimes very easy to be impressed. We must make sure where the example will lead us. In I Cor. 10: Paul tells us of the example of the children of Israel. There were times when the example was GOOD. They obeyed God, left Egypt and marched between two walls of water as they crossed the Red Sea. And over a period of time established the system of worship that God directed. At other times their example was BAD! “Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, ‘the people sat down to eat and drink and rose up to play’. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us make trial of the Lord, as some of them made trial, and perished by the serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them murmured, and perished by the destroyer. Now these things happened unto them by way of example; and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages are come.” (I Cor. 10:6-11). Several times in this passage Paul tells us that this is an example for us…An Example of WHAT NOT TO DO!
Jesus is our perfect example. He is our example in OBEDIENCE. “Have this mind in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: who existing in the form of God, counted not the being on an equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men; and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death, yea, the death of the cross.” (Phil. 2:5-8
As we follow the example of Jesus in obedience, we obey God even unto death. (See Rev. 2:10).
Jesus is our example in FORGIVENESS. “Forbearing one another and forgiving each other, if any man have a complaint against any; even as the Lord forgave you, so also do ye:” (Col. 3:13). No one has ever been treated worse than they treated Him yet He offered them forgiveness. “Father forgive them…they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34). Christ is our example in LOVE. “A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; even as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.” (John 13:34). How much did Jesus love us? “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom. 5:8b).
As we consider and follow our Great Example, may we never forget that we are an example and someone is following us. What kind of example are we? Where are we leading? Who is being influenced by our example? Your family looks up to you. Your friends, and your neighbors observe how you live and what you do. You are an example to someone! Can we say as Paul said… “BE YE IMITATORS OF ME, EVEN AS I ALSO AM OF CHRIST.”
Frank Briscoe