Paul exhorts Timothy not just to be an example in word alone, but in every area of His life (1st Timothy 4:12). A crucial element to living a life that pleases God is not just hearing and repeating the Word, but demonstrating it through our obedience to God. All throughout the Word, we are admonished repeatedly to do the Word (obey God). Ezekiel (33:30-31) says:

““As for you, son of man, the children of your people are talking about you beside the walls and in the doors of the houses; and they speak to one another, everyone saying to his brother, ‘Please come and hear what the word is that comes from the Lord.’ 31 So they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain.”

God had a controversy with Israel. They loved to hear the Word, they went to church and even talked to each other about it, but when it came time to do it, they were nowhere to be found. They drew near to God with word only and not their heart. At the end of the day, they still chased after their way of doing things.

Sometimes this happens just from a lack of teaching, or understanding. Other times its blatant disobedience. An example of this today can look like: I go to church hear a message and then go home and forget about it. Instead of investing time to understand what was said and ask God for revelation of it, I “know” it and move onto the next thing. The Word that was spoken has no lasting impact on my life or the lives around me because I didn’t value it.”

God is looking for people who will serve Him in every circumstance and area of their life. The question is how? Being an example of Christ in both word and deed comes back to one fundamental truth. God’s Word transforms our lives (Romans 12:1-2). If we want to walk like Jesus walked on this earth, first and foremost, our relationship with Him has to come consistently first.

Let’s take a closer look at the verse I just mentioned.

“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

We are to present our lives as a sacrifice to God, through His mercy. It is God’s mercy that we can come to Him and seek His face. When we seek to honor God and choose to put down the things we want to do, we are submitting our lives as a sacrifice to Him. Today that can look like getting off Netflix for the evening and spending time studying the Word and praying. I want to make it clear I am not saying spending time enjoying a movie or tv show is wrong, but what I’m saying is we don’t have to veg-out every evening to those things.

No matter where we are in life, we can be an example of Jesus to everyone around us. We can show the love and mercy of God even in the most difficult of situations if we choose to submit to Him.

God help me be an example of your love and mercy in every circumstance in my life. I thank you that You are transforming my life by Your Holy Spirit when I spend time in Your Word. Thank you for the grace to live my life the way you meant it to be lived. Amen!