1 Timothy 4:12-Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.
Timothy was a young man who desired to serve the Lord yet he had certain weaknesses that hindered his confidence. Young is relative! I consider myself young in the wholeness of life, but when I hear this verse, I automatically think of my children. How can I as a parent encourage them to live everyday life, setting an example that others will notice? This week we have the privilege of traveling with eleven families for our son’s baseball team. Eleven families who come from all walks of life and represent a variety of life perspectives. As a family, we have talked about how do we set ourselves apart in subtle ways so that our actions will be a reflection of our Savior and “set an example” to those around us.
I was recently reminded of how closely people observe others around them. My husband had a softball game and had recently arrived at the ball field with two of our children. He realized after getting to the dugout that he had left his water bottle in the car and so asked if one of the kids would walk back to the car and get it for him while he got ready to play. To be fair, the distance from the field to the parking lot was a bit of a walk but in the kid’s eyes, it was about as far as walking across Africa! They rolled their eyes and said they’d get it later. After the first inning of the game, a teammate handed my husband a Gatorade they purchased at the concession stand and simply said they noticed the kids never got his water bottle. People notice our interactions, good and bad!
We are in a day and age where we are constantly being observed. That can be an unsettling thought, but it can also be a tremendous opportunity to make a difference in the lives of people by simply being aware of our actions and if others will see the love of Christ through them. As we travel with these eleven families, are we taking seriously Paul’s words to set an example through our speech and conduct?
Sharing the transforming love of Jesus does not have to be complicated. Conduct our lives and actions in ways that please the Lord and people will notice! God can and will use those small examples to draw people to Him, and we will have the privilege of knowing that God is using us, even in our regular everyday lives, to reach His people!
Have a wonderful week!
Jordan Roth