Set An Example (Daily Devotional)

Shalom and welcome to another episode of Living Supernaturally. We are glad that you have joined us today to learn of God’s word. In this new series that we are looking at this week, we are focusing on the truth of God’s word for all of us and specially for the youth and I have Jeremy here with me, to share his thoughts and concerns about his season of life and alongside both of us will be looking at God’s word to understand and to learn from.

Jeremy: I keep wondering if I can make an impact or an influence on other people because of my young age? Or if it is even possible to be one and I feel many people don’t take me seriously if I do contribute in some way, and I also wonder how I could make a contribution like this?

Jean: So, in the bible, Jeremy, there is a person who felt the same way that you did and that is Timothy, and we see Paul giving him an instruction in 1 Timothy, telling him not to look down upon himself, let me read that verse for you. In 1 Timothy chapter 4 and verse 12, it says, ‘Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.’ Notice here that Paul is telling Timothy, not to think less of himself all because he is young. This doesn’t mean that he would not be able to, not have anything to say or contribute and you can see Paul is suggesting and encouraging Timothy to know that he is being there in that position of authority because God has placed him there. So, in this verse, the Bible is actually showing you how you can be an example as a young person. It says in word- so some translations say speech meaning in the way that you use your words, the way that you speak, the way that you bring about things, whether there is boasting, lying, so looking at being an example in the way that you talk to others. It talks about in conduct or behavior- the way that you behave, the way that you are with your friends in school or college, the way that you represent God. Another way of being an example is- in love. Where are you setting your affection? Where are you setting your priority? Is it to the Lord? The other place that it talks about that you be an example is in the spirit, that is where you follow the spirits leading and guiding, you being filled with the power of the Holy Spirit in the things that you do. In faith- in your trust, in your belief in God, in salvation, that everything that you do comes as a result of your faith. Lastly, in purity, which means to be able to live a life of holiness, moral cleanness in the choices and decisions that you make. So, in short, our life needs to match what we say or how we live or what we do, and that is how we become an example. So, as a young person, when you look back at God’s word, you will find there are ways that you can change your life to be an example, to set and be a representative of what God wants you to be.

Shall we pray together? Heavenly Father, we thank you, that your word gives us different aspects of how we need to be an example. We commit the ways of young people into the throne of your grace, and we pray that in all of these aspects, in their lives, in their word, in their behavior, in their purity, in the spirit, in their faith that they will set an example that will glorify your name, we thank you for your guidance, in Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.

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Daily devotions to strengthen your faith each day. Daily Devotional for Spirit filled living. Each daily devotion is about five minutes in duration. These daily devotionals are centered around a weekly theme. So there are seven daily devotions that focus on the theme and bring you insight, understanding and revelation from the Bible. Each week's theme is listed as a series. So you can listen to the current week's devotions or go to any previous theme/series that speaks to your present need (https://apcwo.org/resources/daily-devotions ). Also available free sermons (https://apcwo.org/sermons), and free Christian books (https://apcwo.org/books) to nourish and strengthen your faith.