Guest Devotion: Example

This devotion is written by brother Allen Blankenship.

Example

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk even as he walked.

1 John 2:6

We are all examples to someone, somewhere everyday. From the CEO of a corporation to the bagger at the grocery store, people are influenced by the actions and attitudes of others.

In my teenage years I went to a church that was full of people that said they loved the Lord and told of how great God was. All the while, they were grumpy and many of them looked as though they had been sucking on a lemon. That influenced me to fall out of church. If I would have had a stronger relationship with God instead of focusing on them I would have realized I wasn't supposed to have been looking to them anyway.

Fortunately, my dad was a good example of what a christian should be. He not only read the bible daily, he lived it!  I reference my dad a lot in my writings and conversations, not to build him up, but to relay the extraordinary effects God can have on an ordinary man which truly loves God.

My dad taught me to build things and fix stuff, but the greatest thing he EVER did for me was to be an unwavering example of living by faith and praising God for everything. The last week of his life, I was able to witness the joy and peace that only comes through Jesus Christ. It was life changing!

It has been said that our lives may be the only bible our neighbors will ever read. What is the story of your life saying to others?

Being the example makes people want to know Christ

For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow in his steps.

1 Peter 2:21