A Living Example

Scripture:  Philippians 4:9 - The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Have you ever heard someone say “Don’t do what I do.  Do what I say” ?  That’s a bad example for anyone to follow.  Sometimes we as Christians do not set the right example by our lifestyles – what we habitually do.  We don’t realize that people look at how we react to things more so than what we say we’re about or what we want people to perceive about our lifestyle.  More importantly we can never cover up how we really are to the Lord, because He knows everything about us (even more than we know about ourselves.).  God is omniscient.  

The Philippians were told to practice what they had heard, seen, learned and received from Paul.  Paul was a “living example” of the conduct, attitude, lifestyle, he expected from the Philippians.  After reading/studying Philippians chapters one through three, some of the actions, conduct, attitudes, lifestyles expected to see in the Philippians were:

•Loving more - (Philippians 1:9 - And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment) (Philippians  2:2 - Fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.)
•Having greater discernment - (Philippians 1:9, 1:10a )
•Being sincere and without offense (Philippians 1:9, 10b)
•Being filled with the fruit of righteousness - (Philippians 1:11 - Being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.)
•Having conduct worthy of the gospel - (Philippians 1:27 - Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel)
•Standing fast in one spirit - (Philippians 1:27 )
•Striving together for the gospel - (Philippians 1:27)
•Being likeminded, of one accord - (Philippians 1:27, 2:2) (Philippians 2:3 - Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.)
•Esteeming others better than yourself - (Philippians 2:3)
•Working out your own salvation in fear and trembling -(Philippians 2:12 - Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;)
•Dong all things without complaining and disputing - (Philippians 2:14 - Do all things without complaining and disputing.)
•Holding fast the Word of Life - (Philippians 2:16 - Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.)
•Beware of false teachers - (Philippians 3:2 -  Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation!)

Do you aspire to be or are you a “living example” like Paul referred to?

Prayer:  Dear Heavenly Father – Thank You for being the perfect example in which we can follow by the power of the Holy Spirit within us.  Forgive me for falling short so many times.  (I John 1:9) Help me to grow in the things of the Lord.  I aspire to be a “living example” at all times.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

(by Marsha Williams)