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YOU'RE AN EXAMPLE OF CHRIST: REPRESENT (1)
'Be an example..' 1 Timothy 4:12
Embassies are patches of a foreign country, areas that completely belong to the government they represent, right in the middle of another country's city. A tiny outpost of the far-off land in the centre of another one, where a team of government members are ready to help out their own citizens abroad, or act on behalf of their government to talk to the other nation's leaders. When that nation's leaders summon the Ambassador from the Embassy to meet with them, they're really talking to that Ambassador's Prime Minister, and the whole country. Ambassadors "represent" in a very big way.
When we are 'in Christ', we are an example of Christ. That's big. There should be something different about us. Of course, we're a work-in-progress for Christ-likeness, and we're not the finished article yet. But we are supposed to represent Him, just like an Ambassador. That means we take on His likeness, and when people speak or in any way interact with us, they are really interacting with Jesus. People should see that difference in the way we live and the way we are.
When Paul says, 'be an example', he is basically saying, 'When you talk about Jesus, people should actually see Jesus. Not just words about Him. Then they'll desire to know Him and be pulled to Him. When you talk about faith, the evidence of it in your life should be so compelling that they want to live by it.'
What now? The Psalms contain worship to God, but also great prayers to help and strengthen us. Have a go at writing your own short Psalm about being a solid example for others to follow.
written by Bob Gass
'Be an example..' 1 Timothy 4:12
Embassies are patches of a foreign country, areas that completely belong to the government they represent, right in the middle of another country's city. A tiny outpost of the far-off land in the centre of another one, where a team of government members are ready to help out their own citizens abroad, or act on behalf of their government to talk to the other nation's leaders. When that nation's leaders summon the Ambassador from the Embassy to meet with them, they're really talking to that Ambassador's Prime Minister, and the whole country. Ambassadors "represent" in a very big way.
When we are 'in Christ', we are an example of Christ. That's big. There should be something different about us. Of course, we're a work-in-progress for Christ-likeness, and we're not the finished article yet. But we are supposed to represent Him, just like an Ambassador. That means we take on His likeness, and when people speak or in any way interact with us, they are really interacting with Jesus. People should see that difference in the way we live and the way we are.
When Paul says, 'be an example', he is basically saying, 'When you talk about Jesus, people should actually see Jesus. Not just words about Him. Then they'll desire to know Him and be pulled to Him. When you talk about faith, the evidence of it in your life should be so compelling that they want to live by it.'
What now? The Psalms contain worship to God, but also great prayers to help and strengthen us. Have a go at writing your own short Psalm about being a solid example for others to follow.
written by Bob Gass
