What does my example teach?

Much of my life, I walked a treacherous and thorny path. I was not wise and I was not prepared, I just stumbled my way through life from one fun time to another,  encountering unexpected obstacles along the way. I also didn’t think about the example that my life choices set for those around me.

Proverbs 22:5-6 NLT
Corrupt people walk a thorny, treacherous road; whoever values life will avoid it. Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Now I see that the best way that I can lead my daughter,  and the best way that I can lead anyone who watched my life as an example – is to walk it out in my choices and decisions and words and actions. And what is interesting to me is that I’m not trying to live my life out as an example for them,  but it is an amazing side benefit of living a life surrendered to Christ.

You see,  when I’m genuinely grateful for this gift of grace – when my perspective is one of thanks and humility towards the Lord for this undeserved gift – my life is a praise lifted to Him daily,  and even moment to moment. And when I ask Him what I should do,  and I listen for His answer in my heart,  and I check it against His Word, and I obey, then my actions will speak even louder and will provide the foundation for my words when I teach my daughter.

And we should be aware that little eyes watch us everywhere we go. Little eyes has nothing to do with physical age, but has to do with spiritual maturity. In our lives each day, there are people in various seasons of their walk of Faith – some are lost, some are on fire, some are lukewarm, and some are dead. Our lives,  our actions and words can either ignite them with additional flame for the Lord, leave them unaffected,  or it can even push them further away. So we are teaching every day with our choices.

And many are on a thorny and treacherous path,  and they are stumbling in the darkness,  bruised and battered and hurting – and they need healing. They need the renewal and redemption that only the one true healer Jesus Christ can provide for their lives. So our choices are not just about ourselves.

If we say,  but I am free in Christ – have we forgotten our brothers and sisters and the light and salt that we are to be in this world for them? Have we forgotten the cross that we should bear each day for their sake?  Or do we prove how little love we have towards others by our actions when we see the needs of others but put our wants ahead of their needs?

1 John 4:19-21 NLT
We love each other because He loved us first. If someone says, “I love God,” but hates a fellow believer, that person is a liar; for if we don’t love people we can see, how can we love God, whom we cannot see? And He has given us this command: Those who love God must also love their fellow believers.

And don’t we want people to find the narrow path? Can’t we see the disaster that comes from walking through the traps and snares of the enemy? Don’t we want  to encourage those who aren’t on the path to draw closer to the path?

Have we asked ourselves which path we are walking?

1 John 3:7-10 NLT
Dear children, don’t let anyone deceive you about this: When people do what is right, it shows that they are righteous, even as Christ is righteous. But when people keep on sinning, it shows that they belong to the devil, who has been sinning since the beginning. But the Son of God came to destroy the works of the devil. Those who have been born into God’s family do not make a practice of sinning, because God’s life is in them. So they can’t keep on sinning, because they are children of God. So now we can tell who are children of God and who are children of the devil. Anyone who does not live righteously and does not love other believers does not belong to God.

What area of our own life needs to be surrendered today?

Do we realize that once we surrender it and once we are in obedience,  that it will no longer be a stumbling block to others?

So let’s ask ourselves again – what area of my life needs to be surrendered today?

Then let’s surrender it,  and praise the Lord for His renewing and healing power over our lives – let’s walk it out by faith and not by sight. Let’s see the change in us that we need and that this world needs so greatly.