In high school I worked at a
fast food restaurant, Kentucky Fried Chicken to be specific. With hard work I
was soon moving up the ladder! I became the chief baker, responsible for making
the famous KFC Biscuits! This was no small feat. They had to be done right each
and every time. My boss trained me, showing me example after example of what he
wanted me to make. He drilled into me through his example his expectation for
my actions. I never have forgotten the value of a well-made biscuit, or the
value of a good example! As followers of Messiah Yeshua, we are responsible for
producing something more important than biscuits: we need to be producing
disciples! In order to make disciples we have to provide for people an example
to follow and then instruct them to copy that example! What does it mean to be
a good spiritual example?
In Philippians 3:17 Paul
makes very clear his perspective regarding spiritual example setting: “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe
those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Following good examples has been essential in my spiritual growth and
development as a believer. I have benefited by seeing strong and more mature
believers model what it means to love G-d and keep his commandments. They have
shown me by their personal actions the truth of what the Scriptures teach! What
actions were most helpful? First I
would say was godliness: the day to day
living out of what it meant to die to sin. This was invaluable for me to
see as a young teen who struggled with bad habits and raging hormones! Their
examples, especially those who were at or near my age, gave me the strength and
encouragement to actively confess and set aside my own sin and to seek G-d’s
righteousness. Second was humility: choosing to humbly submit to G-d and
others. I always wanted to make a difference in the world, but seeing strong
and intelligent people, especially men, willingly choosing to operate in
meekness with others reminded me that it was not by my might nor my power, but G-d’s,
that ultimately would be required if I wanted to make anything of eternal value
happen with my life. Finally it was
the living out of faith: choosing to follow
G-d and his instruction simply because G-d is real and his ways are true.
Seeing people giving their lives for the faith they believed in even when it
hurt encouraged me to do the same!
What type of an example
are you for other believers to follow?
Does your example direct people toward a more maturing faith and relationship
with G-d, or are you an excuse for someone’s decision to turn away from G-d? Something to think about!
Forward for Messiah,
Rabbi Kirk Gliebe
