Articles
Teach By Example
I once knew a man, who had few inhibitions. If he met someone for the first time ever, he would introduce himself, get their first name, such as Gloria, and then say, "Gloria, God loves you".
If that statement led to another, he would follow with something else appropriate. When you left, even if you never got past introductions, you knew something about this man.
Few of us are wired that way, but we ought to be. When people talk to us they ought to get a sense really early on of what kind of person we are by what words we use and how we use them. The opportunities we have to interact with people should be taken advantage of and paint a picture of who we are. Paul says in Col 4:5-6, "Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."
In Eph 4:29 we read, "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear." James says, "So speak and so act as those who are to be judged by the law of liberty. James 2:12.
It's not just our speech, but that is often the first thing, and sometimes the only thing that people get to see in us. Paul tells Timothy, "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. 1 Tim 4:12.
As we go about our lives, we need to speak, and act in such a way to show love, demonstrate our faith, and be a positive example for everyone we come in contact with, especially those who are fellow believers. May the Lord help us each day to do exactly that!
