1 TIMOTHY 4:12b – Set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

THEME OF THE DAY. ARE YOU GOD? It happened a few years ago but the impact on me is as fresh as if it was yesterday. He was probably eight years old. I think he was in the third grade. A family in our church had taken him in as a foster child. Church was foreign to him, but he was very attentive as he attended with his foster family. I would notice him watching me on Sunday mornings. I started looking him up to say hello. A relationship was forming. Occasionally my eyes would find him in the congregation during my sermon. He always seemed to be engaged. One Sunday was memorable. After I closed the service and came down from the platform, he met me. He said, “Pastor Jim, may I ask you a question?” I replied, “Of course.” With a serious look, he stared in my face saying these words, “Are you God?” Wow. Over the course of a month or so, my little friend watched me, interacted with me, listened to me, and in his inquisitive mind, I was representing God to him. I smiled, put my arm on his shoulder and said, “No, I am not God. I work for Him.” And then we had a nice little conversation about Jesus and human beings.

The question and interaction with my little friend lingered for days. A lot of days. His question caused deep pondering in my heart and mind. And I hope what I took away from this encounter causes you to ponder as well. In the days following this incident, I started to think about the people that are observing my life – in my home, my church, on my job, and in my community. My thinking drove me to these two questions, “I wonder if all of them are seeing Jesus in and through me?” and “If they were asked, ‘do you see Christ in Jim?’, would they answer ‘Yes, I do. He truly does show me Jesus in His words, attitudes and actions.”

Now what about you? Would your family members, neighbors, brothers and sisters in the Lord, unsaved friends, co-workers, and other people who interact with you see the selfless Lord Jesus or your self-centered self? Go slow, prayerfully slow, in examining yourself in the light of those questions. What is at stake is too important to quickly dismiss.

In today’s scripture, the Apostle Paul exhorts Timothy to be an example to others. And this example covers every area of life; speech, conduct, attitudes, actions and thought life. Young Timothy was to be a thorough example of the Lord Jesus – an example which would have impact on those observing his life. Don’t underestimate the power of a godly example. Such a life gives “teeth” or substance to our profession of faith. What we say we are – Christ’s followers – is to be validated by doing what we say we are – following Christ. By living an observable example of Jesus, it may prompt people to ask us spiritual questions or inquiries about our faith in Christ. Remember, a powerful and effective verbal witness for Christ demands a powerful and observable life lived for Christ. The two are inseparable. People are watching. Even little people.

PRAYER: “Father, help me to walk aware that the world needs to see Christ in and through me.”

QUOTE: “People watch people and those in our spheres of influence are watching to see Jesus.”