Setting A Christ-Like Example

Commentary

We live in a society that is so saturated by immorality, and the youth seem to be the priority target. This makes it all the more important to be ministering to one another, while living out lives that are in line with God’s Word. Each believer is to be an example to one another, especially to the youth and those Christians who are young in their faith.

Men, we should be self-controlled in all things, submitting everything to Jesus. All that we do must be in love and driven by sound Bible-based faith. The mature man of God should be displaying the ability to endure in trials and overcoming temptations, by the power of Christ, for which we so lean on for all that we need to live holy. If you are married, you should be leading your household as Christ leads His Church, by love, self-sacrifice, and ministry to your wife and children.

Women, you are to be respectable in your behavior, not slaves to the gossip, wine, or the social ills of our day. If you are married, you are to be a faithful wife, whose love for the Lord is reflected in your love for your husband. If you are single, seek first the Lord and look for contentment in Him before seeking out a Christ-loving husband.

Commentary

Youth comes with all the physical ability and energy to do pretty much anything that we set out to do, but also comes with the lack of life experience, wisdom, and lack of self-control in the things that are done. If you’re an older follower of Christ, you are to be that role model to the young believers around you. I’d even say to all the youth around you.

Doesn’t matter if you’re a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, whatever, the young are looking to you for an example of how to navigate life. You will not be unable to teach them correctly if you lack sound faith in Christ, lack obedience to the Lord, lack self-control, lack love, and so on.

Consider how you behave on a regular basis. Is your language filthy? Are you dressed modestly? Do you fly off the handle at the smallest challenge? Do you constantly speak badly of others? Are you consuming content that promotes godlessness? What examples are you setting that the young are absorbing like sponges?

Commentary

For the young believers, stay on the path with Jesus. You are no doubt tempted in every way, especially by selfish ambitions, lust, and sexually immoral desires. But keep yourself tethered to Christ, holding on to Him with a life-or-death grip. Listen to those older than you, who have shown the fruit of faith in their lives and likely have great wisdom from the Lord.

Those who are mature in Christ, not only in age but spiritual maturity, teach the young all that you can about Jesus and not only to study God’s Word but more importantly to live out God’s Word.

There are many, and I mean many, demonic attacks and influences coming at the youth today. You can’t trust anyone who teaches your children. As a Christ-follower, you must be active and willing to guide the young in the ways of the Lord because the public schools aren’t and neither is social media, Disney, Nickelodeon, and so on. For if we don’t guide them, Satan, his demons, and their human conspirators surely will.

Commentary

If you’re over 35, then you can likely look back on your younger years and recall how confusing things were, how difficult it might have been to adjust to adult life, all of the influences seeking your attention. This culture is not designed to set anyone up for success, as the Lord would have it, but is designed to move the young away from Jesus as soon as possible and as completely as possible. Satan has anyone he can get, chasing after the successes of this world, the lusts, the wealth, all the desires of one’s flesh as young as he can get them.

These last several decades have seen generations grow up with less and less knowledge of Jesus. The result is absolutely devastating. You only need to look at the drug problems, gender confusion, the constant manipulation and sexualization of our youth. Our young people need Jesus more now than ever. What they are up against is a growing evil that is taking over all facets of culture; breeding confusion, hopelessness, and despair.

But we, as followers of Christ, have the answer — the Gospel. It’s not only a command to be sharing the Gospel with all, but an absolute necessity. People are so lost, the young are especially lost as so many have now grown up in a brokenness not seen at such a scale in Western culture. Ask yourself, how can I be that Christ-like influence to the young people in my life? Pray and seek wisdom and guidance from the Lord. It’s a wonderful thing, a blessed thing, to bring a child closer to Jesus.

Commentary

What you teach the young will stick with them, and we want that to first and foremost be Jesus. Like Paul was to Timothy, let us also be role models, teachers, leaders of the faith to those younger in our lives. Whether in our own homes, those in our family, and those who the Lord may have brought into our lives.

As you live out your faith in Jesus, ensure that you’re saturated in His Word, allowing the Holy Spirit to lead your heart; being patient, loving, self-controlled, kind, compassionate, caring for others, and seeking what’s best for those around you. If you’re so tethered to Jesus each day of your life, then your example will be seen by those younger than you, who are watching your every move. They are much more likely to pick up how life-changing Jesus is and how a believer in Christ is to live if you’re living holy and not as a blatant hypocrite.