Meet The New Youنموونە

The Wise Example

When my littlest daughter was about six years old, she came prancing into the kitchen to show off her “short” shorts, declaring that she was now like the big girls she saw on campus. “Sweetheart,” I replied, “they don’t make short shorts for girls your size. Let’s look at what size they really are.”

It turned out that she was wearing the wrong pair of hand-me-downs. Instead of putting on size 6 pair, which would be swimming on her, she squeezed into a 2T. Why? Because she was following the example set before her as a faculty child living at a boarding school with teens. She was taking it all in—the good, the bad, and the too short shorts parading around on the weekends.

What are you “taking in” as you carry on throughout your day? What images are leaving an impression on your mind? What behaviors do you witness in others that are shaping your character? What media montage is making an impact on your soul?

These are the examples being set before us that we follow without a conscious effort, unless we get intentional about our focus. That’s because it’s human nature to watch, witness, and put into action. And that’s why Paul urges us to follow the example of Christ. Yes, this sometimes can be accomplished by watching those ahead of us who are pursuing Christ too, but what happens if they fall prey to their flesh? What happens when they stumble and sin?

Christ gave us the one example we can follow without every going wrong.

Trap and Transform

1. What example are you subconsciously following, such as through media, cultural ideas, or relationships?

2. What does it look like to practically follow Christ’s example?

3. Have you ever thought about the example you’re setting for others and the implication on their lives?