THE EXAMPLE
For even if you had ten thousand others to teach you about Christ, you have only one spiritual father. For I became your father in Christ Jesus when I preached the Good News to you. So I ask you to follow my example and do as I do. (NLT 1 Corinthians 4:15-16)

We have thousands of books and videos and programming to teach us all we could ever want to learn. But there is not one as worthwhile as the example someone we are in relationship with sets for us.

Show and tell is an exercise used in grade school. The students bring their favorite toy, a pet, or something else to class and share their excitement about this item. By showing someone else the love they have for that pet, another gets excited about having one of their own.

People do not become stronger Christians because of what we tell them. We must be an example in all we do and say. We teach by example.

Words by themselves can be taken the wrong way. Meant well, they might trigger some previous event in the receiver and take on an entirely different meaning. What we think should be projecting love might be sending a different message. As they see us show His love to others and to them, misinterpretation is less likely to occur. Instead of relying on past experiences to interpret, our example is creating new experiences for them.

Jesus was an example for all who followed Him and Paul an example for the gentiles. The Christ in us is that same example for all we are in relationship with. As we live our lives, we tell others by our words and our actions, about the living Jesus.

Be an example for someone you know today.?