Good morning! I don’t know how many people out there are like me, but when it comes to instructions – I love them! If it’s a piece of furniture, the person who created it knows exactly how it should be put together. If it is a specific way to cook a meal, I’m sure many people have perfected the way to make it. Not that I can’t take some liberty to make it my own, but I like to give the recipe a try at first.
This may be a little over the top for some of you, so brace yourself; but I was so frustrated with hard boiled eggs being green around the yolk, that I actually asked the World Wide Web for instructions on how to cook the perfect hard boiled egg. When I followed the instructions, the yolks were a rich yellow color and so creamy!
I hate when something does not come with good instructions, but I am thankful for things like search engines and YouTube! You can find anything on there! Who needs to call an expert anymore, when you can become the expert by watching a quick five minute video?!
The next best thing to having instructions (and arguably even better) is having someone who knows how to do it, and walk you through the steps. Anytime I want to learn something new, I always search for a person who has successfully achieved the outcome I want to produce. I can watch what they do, and try to follow their example; but also try to tweak some things along the way.
When it comes to growing in our knowledge of God and experiencing a relationship with Him, God has given us His Word, the Bible. It really is the instruction manual for life. I use it as a standard for the way I live, the way I parent, and the way I pastor. But sometimes, having an example to follow helps to bring the instructions to life!
Jesus came to the earth and lived a perfect life as an example for us to follow.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Ephesians 5:1
I could never live up to His standard, but I try my very best with the help of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Helper and teaches us about the mysteries of God.
But there are also people around us that can teach us and guide us through the experiences they have had. Look at the apostle Paul – he instructs the Corinthians to…
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.”
1 Corinthians 11:1
And he tells the Philippians that…
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.”
Philippians 4:9
Paul’s life had been radically changed by God. Before he was preaching the gospel and sharing his life with the churches, he was persecuting them. It was on the road to Damascus when Jesus met him and chose him to be the one who would proclaim the Good News (the Gospel) to the Gentiles (the non-Jewish people).
Paul’s life was never the same! If you have come to know Jesus, accepted Him as your Savior, and yielded your life to Him, chances are your life has been radically changed as well!
My desire is to live a life that is a godly example for people to follow. This can be scary because you have to be vulnerable and let your guard down so that people can see the real you – and the real you is not always what it appears to be. But when people are able to see the real you, that is when they can see the power of God to TRANSFORM lives and repurpose our failures!
Be encouraged today to do two things:
- Commit to following the example of Jesus by using God’s Word as a standard for the way you live so that others can – follow you as you follow Christ
- Look for godly men and women in your life that will guide you and walk with you as you grow in your knowledge of God to experience a deeper relationship with Him
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word and the example of Your Son, Jesus! Thank You for the gift of the Holy Spirit to guide us and teach us! Thank You for the men and women You have placed in our lives to encourage us and show us how to grow deeper in our relationship with You! Help us to live according to the principles You have provided in Your Word so that we may live in a way that others could follow. In Jesus Name – AMEN!
Be Transformed 