Textbook Example

Winter break is coming to an end and my youngest will be returning to high school tomorrow and my two eldest to college next week. The food in the house will go a little further and they’ll be cracking open those textbooks to gain wisdom and knowledge on their specific areas of study. In those pages, they will find examples and exercises that will enable them to learn and excel. Spiritually, it is no different.

• If you want to learn about patience and how to endure suffering – where do you go? Whose life do you study? Job, of course!
• If you have a deep desire to understand the miracle-working power of God, you would naturally read about the exploits of Abraham and Moses.
• Do you want to gain some insight on overcoming fear to do what is right? Esther is your girl – um, I mean woman.
• Are you struggling to reject intimidation and embrace courage? Then reading about Joshua would be the best place to look.
• Do you want to learn about holding onto a dream? Read up on Joseph and his lengthy stay in Egypt.
• Have you pondered how to be content, truly content in all circumstances? Well, you would turn the pages of the New Testament to read about Paul.
• Do you long to go to deeper levels of intimacy with God? David is your man.
• Are you trying to figure out how to recover from failure and become all that God has called you to be? Peter is a great friend to connect with.

Why talk about all these Bible greats? Because these are some of the people that came to mind as I walked to church yesterday morning, singing and praying in the brisk morning air. During that forty-five minute walk, this was the verse that came to mind:

     ‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.’ Hebrews12:1 NLT

Hebrews 12:1 begins, ‘Therefore ….’ And what is that ‘therefore’ there for? It is there because it points back to Hebrews 11 which is also known as the hallmark of faith and the faithful. It refers to an entire chapter devoted to detailing the faithful actions of believers, the evidence of their practical application of faith.

Then this thought came: If God wanted to instruct someone, if He had someone that wanted to learn about faith, perseverance, worship, joy in tribulation or walking in humility, would He instruct them to examine my life? Would He use my life, your life, as His textbook example of what walking in faith looks like practically. 

Am I living my life in such a way that I could say, like Paul, 'Follow me as I follow Christ (I Cor. 11:1)’? In reflection of all the faithful who have gone before me, with the believers who walk beside me every day and under the inspection of the unsaved who are seeking truth and wondering if the Christian walk has an ounce of validity – do I conduct myself in such a way that I am a witness of the power of Christ and have I become His letter of love and hope to a confused, fearful and perishing generation. I believe that is what my aim should be … and not just me but every believer.

My prayer, not only for this year, but for the remainder of my life is that the LORD would be able to point to my life and use it as an example - of what joy, patience, faith, love, trust and perseverance look like in practical application. What about you?         

I pray that you will have an abundantly blessed day!