Daily Direction Reading PlanSample

A father swore at his 4-year-old child. A bystander reminded him that the child would one day swear too. The father replied, "I expect him to do as I say, not as I do." Sadly, many people think that works, but it never does. That is why the Bible urges us to keep in mind that people copy our behavior. The Apostle Paul knew that, and he used himself as an example to teach new believers how they should behave. Writing to the Thessalonians, chapter 2, he said, "Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not just pretending to be your friends so you would give us money. As for praise, we have never asked for it from you or anyone else. We loved you so much that we gave you not only God's Good News but our own lives, too. Night and day, we toiled to earn our living; we did not want be a burden to anyone there as we preached God's Good News among you. You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God that we were pure, honest, and faultless toward all of you believers. We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider you worthy. He called you into his kingdom to share his glory." God wants us to be positive models for other people. He especially wants us to set good examples for children and youth.