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What are you an example of ?

As Paul taught young Timothy, he counseled him to not allow anyone to think less of him because of his youth. Paul knew that young people tend to waste much of their young years in frivolous living. So Paul was instructing Timothy to be an example and a pattern to others even as a young person. Paul told Timothy to be an example for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. Timothy was to set a pattern, for all those who would look at his life, of what it was to be a genuine follower of Christ. He wanted him to be an example and a pattern for others. Paul didn’t want Timothy to be just another young person wasting his young life. He wanted him to rise above the statistics and the general view of youth in that day and be an example and pattern for others to see and learn from. Whether you are young or older, God reminds us today to be an example and pattern for other believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. What are you an example of?

1 Timothy 4:12 (AMPC) “Let no one despise or think less of you because of your youth, but be an example (pattern) for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity”.

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This “rod” will beat them in the future!

When we are young, we boast of great things. We speak what’s on our minds. We express things we know nothing about. The pride of youthful strength and beauty permeates everything we do. However, in many cases, this comes back to “bite” us in the future. Right now in our nation, we can see how things people said or did in the past have come back to haunt them. In some cases, peoples’ character and legacy have been destroyed by something they said or did in the past. Proverbs 14:3 (NLT) says: “A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.” Your words can become a “rod” that will beat you in the future if you are not careful and discerning. Psalms 141:3 (AMP) says: “Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips [to keep me from speaking thoughtlessly].” Especially today, we need to daily pray that prayer. Everything we say is recorded, whether on email, text, video or audio recordings. Be like the wise person who sets a guard over their mouth. It will keep you safe, even in the midst of personal attacks or misunderstandings. Selah!

Proverbs 14:3 (NLT) “A fool’s proud talk becomes a rod that beats him, but the words of the wise keep them safe.”