Following The Leader

Growing up my sister Jenn and I loved playing with our neighbors! One sunny afternoon we decided to play Follow the Leader. We traipsed through the front yard, skipping, hopping, walking, running, doing all sorts of silly things. We made it to the back yard and followed the leader to a tree that had little stones placed around the roots. The leader walked on the stones and we followed. Little did we know that there was a yellow jacket nest under the rocks. As the leader walked on the stones the yellow jackets got disturbed and by the time I was standing on the rocks, they were swarming us. They were landing on us and stinging us. The leader vanished, she never even got stung. The rest of us however were being attacked. The adults nearby tried to tell me to swat them away, but I was too scared. I was frozen. I didn’t know what to do, the leader had led me into a nest of yellow jackets who by that had gotten stuck in my clothes and were stinging me all over, thank goodness I wasn’t allergic. Following a good example can be the difference between life and death sometimes.

Following a good example

I am grateful for the example Jenn set for me in her physical life like we talked about last week. Jenn made sure to eat vegetables, to work out, to sleep enough. She helped me care about my health. She encouraged me to train physically to be healthy and strong. Who of you is strong? 3 volunteers, push up contest. Do you train? What could you have done to be stronger? Practiced, done push ups everyday, trained for the contest. As a reminder of last week, Paul points out that training physically matters, but training your heart matters even more. Jenn didn’t just set an example for me in being healthy physically, but spiritually too by helping me train my heart by: going to church, spending time in prayer, and to reading her Bible every night.

Paul said:
“If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance. That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.”

(1 Timothy 4:6-10)

The false teachers in the church were leading the people into danger (like a yellow jackets nest) Paul wanted people to train in knowing and sharing the truth so that they won’t fall for the lies and follow the bad examples. If we know the truth, we are responsible to share it with others. To set an example for others so that they can be saved by the hope we have in God. Paul took sharing the gospel seriously. He risked his life again and again in order to show others the importance of the gospel. He says that he was like an athlete in the last lap of the race: on his last breath, laboring and striving. Paul was willing to give up his life to be a good example. To be a good example though, he first had to follow the perfect example who was Christ. As Christians, we train in our spiritual lives by following the examples of other believers and ultimately Jesus’ example: the one who came in the flesh with the power of the Holy Spirit, defeated death, was resurrected, and proclaimed. Godliness isn’t about trying to be good, it is about knowing and following Jesus who is the ultimate good leader.

Once we start following the good example, then we can set an example for others.

“Command and teach these things. Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”

(1 Timothy 4:11-14)

Timothy knows the truth. You guys have learned what the truth about Jesus is. Paul reminds us of our responsibility to tell others about it. Regardless of our age. You guys are not too young to follow the example of Jesus and to live holy lives. You are not too young to hold one another accountable when you notice your friend is struggling with temptation. You are not too young to set an example of what it means to live like Jesus. In what areas does Paul say you should set examples for believers in? If you see an older believer failing to be loving, what should you do? You should set an example for them. Do you feel weird being told to set an example for them, even for me if you see me acting out of line? Maybe in some areas you are confident, but not all. In what way could you set an example for the people around you in speech? In how you act? What could you do? How about purity? Not lying to one another, not comparing yourselves to others, not disobeying your parents, not having pity parties, not watching pornography. It is hard to live like this, but this is how Paul challenges us. We can’t do it on our own with pure will power. How do we do it? By being devoted to the truth!

Before I could even think about setting an example for others, I had to follow the example of others. Not only did Jenn set an example for me when she worked out every night, I also saw her read her Bible. Every night. Seeing her do that and hearing her talk about the stories she was reading, the passage thatwas comforting her, it made me want to do it. Because of our relationship, I wanted to follow her example. But I knew I would need accountability. I needed someone who would see if I was being spiritually nourished every day. I asked my older friend I call Sims, “What if we both read the same passage of scripture every night? I’ll text you the verses once I’ve read them and you can ask me about it if I don’t text you”. I texted her everyday for over ten years. You know why? It was because of what Paul said to Timothy.

A screen recording of many of the messages

“Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”

(1 Timothy 4:15-16)

It wasn’t because I wanted her to follow my good example, but because I want to be devoted to God’s Word. I wanted to be diligent in seeking to know God, I wanted accountability in watching my life closely. As believers, we are called to follow the ultimate example of Jesus and His perfect love and while we follow, we become examples for others. Following Jesus’ example redefines godliness it’s not about being good people, but living lives of freedom and devotion to the truth.