Examples

Matthew 5:16 NCV: “You should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and will praise your Father in heaven.”

We are the church of Christ! We are a walking billboard for God! Our doors aren’t just open on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings; they are open and on display 24/7.

We are Christ’s examples.

Take being a parent, are you a teacher by example or are you a hypocrite and tell your children, “do as I say not as I do?”

Growing up I had one of each! One parent raised my brother and me by example and by sharing life experiences and the lessons learned! The other raised us with strict morals, statutes, and discipline but wasn’t as big on the example part! The general attitude of I’m an adult and one day when you are then you can too! Seemed flimsy as a kid, seems flimsy as an adult.

I raised and taught my children our actions will always speak louder than our words. Please, don’t get me wrong, I made many mistakes raising my children and often didn’t set the right example. This brings up another example, and that’s one of the admittance of wrong behavior or actions.

When we can humble ourselves! When we can admit to a mistake or a wrong! When we can say I’m sorry! These are all examples of the behavior taught by our Lord Jesus.

People watch proclaimed Christians, sadly looking for our mistakes and ungodly actions. Judging us under the microscope of hypocrisy because sadly God’s churches are full of it!

Was your face the last face at the bar Saturday night and the first face at church Sunday morning? Do you preach love and forbearance but have been seen shredding a customer service clerk with your verbiage?

Are you the leader of the off-colored jokes around the printer at work? Are you the one bragging about how much you’re getting back on your taxes because you cheated the IRS?

I remember when my kids were young and we’d be in the car and a driver would make me mad and my oldest’s solution always seemed to be to flip them off, Mom! No, we have a Christian fish on the car and how would that look? Fast forward a few years and said child got his first car. I asked him if he’d like me to get him a Christian fish for it. His reply was, “No, I plan on flipping people off!”

It’s a funny story but rings so true! Our actions and words speak the loudest!

Again, we are God’s church, people are always watching us! What are you showing them? 😌