VISIBLE EXAMPLES OF GODLINESS

                The best writers in the world don’t just tell their readers a story, they show them. The best Christians in the world don't just tell the world of the goodness and power of God… they show them.

 

Paul was one of those people who showed others a godly life.  He demonstrated to them his humility - he did not brag about himself.  He showed them his godly temperament - he did not explode in anger at people for small things.  People saw that he did not gossip about others and that he was quick to forgive.  They saw that he lived by integrity and carefully followed his conscience.  They saw how hard of a worker he was and how he served the Lord with zeal.  After all of this Paul tells the Corinthians to imitate himself. “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1). Conceitedness was not the cause of his words and admiration was not his motive. Paul knew that the Corinthian church would watch his life and they would soon imitate him just as children do their father. His words to them give us two lessons to take for ourselves:

 

WHY DO WE NEED GODLY EXAMPLES?

The benefit a Christian example or role model provides is this: visible godliness. Putting a picture on godliness is like trying to describe what somebody looks like. Sometimes it’s just easier to see than to explain. Godliness is easier for us to understand and imitate when we see it in action. For a child starting little league, can you imagine how hard it would be to learn how to play baseball without ever seeing the game played or any of the equipment?  No amount of explanation is going to do any good without some type of visible process.  Can a person write down the rules of chess and understand every detail without ever seeing what a board and the pieces look like? This is what spiritually mature Christians provide to the world – a visible example of godliness.

 

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven." - (Mat 5:16)

 

“Preach the Gospel at all times; use words if necessary” – St Francis of Assisi

 

In addition to the benefit of imitation, seeing holy men and women of God inspires and encourages. Imagine there are two Olympic runners. One runs with two of his friends who happen to each be over three hundred pounds, and the other runs with two of his friends who happen to be world class athletes. Which one of the Olympians is going to improve more? The Holy Spirit lives in us and makes us long for spiritual godliness, especially when we see the godly examples of others. As brothers and sisters in the Lord we help to further each others’ godliness by inspiring others with our example.

 

Titus 2:7-8, "In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,  Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you."