Godly Examples

3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

God has ordained that Christianity spread not only by its truth being taught but also by its truth being shown . He has set out to remake a people into the image of His Son who was the perfect earthly manifestation of His heavenly life. This divine life was passed on from Jesus to the apostles, including Paul. It is through the apostles that the life of Christ is passed on to the rest of the world. It is not just something that is taught. It is something that is caught. It is contagious. It is not enough to hear about it, you must see it. Every person needs not only to be taught about Christianity, he also needs to be shown what it looks like in real life.

We can still see this life in Paul through his writings. We have seen that God inspired Paul to say over and over again that believers should imitate him. Now he urges the Philippians (and us with them) to take note of others who are following the pattern of life found in Paul: Look for people who walk according to the pattern you saw in us, because this pattern first came from Christ:

1Cor.11:1 "Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ."

Each one of us should look around for godly examples. They are an important means by which God conforms us to the pattern of Christ. How do we know which ones are godly? Look for the ones who live according to the pattern found in Paul’s writings (and the rest of the Bible as well). Don’t let godly people pass you by. Observe them. Learn from them. Seek them out. Ask them questions. As for their counsel. Let their lives be a pattern to imitate.

And this means we should strive to be godly examples as well. The world desperately needs people who live like Christ. It is an important ingredient in others becoming like Christ. We need to proclaim the gospel. We also need to be living demonstrations of its love and power.

Heavenly Father, take over my life, hold sway over me to such a great extent that my life reflects the glory of Christ. The people that encounter me get so much Jack and so little Jesus. Help Jack to die, and Christ to come alive in me. Make my life an encouragement and an inspiration to Your people. Raise up godly men and women in our generation, who follow after the pattern of Christ and Paul. And let me be one of them.