Good morning Friend,
Today by God’s grace, we continue the very interesting series we started a week ago; 10 Practical ways to show Love in 2018. We learned to gift everyone a genuine smile and to pray for people who may never even know we prayed for them. I trust you practiced both of these practical tips this past one week.
Today, we shall be considering a few more practical ways to show forth God’s super amazing love to a world that many times is completely oblivious of it.
3. Be a Good Example: I’ll probably write a book on the Power of an Example. It is so profound the amount of power locked up in an example. An example is a pattern, a prototype, a model and an algorithm of possible situations. I remember back then in Secondary School, we were given examples such as; a+a=2a and were required to solve questions such as; (2*ax-y)3x – by. These were moments where guys just got upset! Like what in the world is the correlation between the example and this unrecognisable question? Well that was Secondary School’s way of transferring knowledge. A real example is meant to be set forth as a model capable of instructing the learner on the basic principles required to solve possible problems that may be posed within the parameters of the same context.
My question to you is simple… is anyone presently solving a major problem in their lives because they applied the same principles they gleaned from you as their example? Or do you look like one of those examples in our Secondary Schools? Where the example is completely void of real life application for problem solving…?
The highest position in God’s Maturity Class is that of an Example. It’s not being a Bishop, Reverend, Prophet, Apostle, Pastor, Evangelist or Teacher… it is simply being an Example. Are you only a title bearing leader or an example? One way you must show love to your neighbours is by being a worthy example to them and those afar off. As we speak of Examples, I remember the Father of Faith; Abraham whom God publicly announced to be our example. Isaiah 51 says we should look unto him as the rock from which we were hewn and learn from him. Abraham by being an example opened up a pathway of faith applications for generations after him. Because of Abraham, we understand what Faith is and how it can be applied in our lives today. What better way is there to show love than to be a worthy pattern to look at for several generations. That you’re an example doesn’t mean you have to be perfect as we all know that Abraham wasn’t, it just means you need to consider your actions and their implication on your neighbour(s) before you take them.
An example isn’t just a physical tool to relate with, it transcends into a mental picture that keeps replaying itself whenever scenarios are presented. That is why if a boy keeps watching his father beat up his mother, as much as he hates it right now, that image will transcend that time and space and be lodged into his memory, waiting to replay itself… the moment a scenario presents itself in that context again in his adulthood, he will respond only like the example he had always seen whether he liked it back then or not. And except that child renews his mind to the Word of God, that example will completely dominate his experiences. The Bible says that the judgment deserving for those who are bad examples and causing others to fall is that a very weighty stone be tied around their neck and be thrown into the ocean. That is exactly how important examples are to God.
God wanted to show the world how to love one another. He didn’t admonish, beseech or explain… He simply showed us an immaculate and unbeatable example by giving His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Every time you show a good example, you are saving lives in advance and doing otherwise whenever you show a bad example. Usually the only reason why evil perpetuates is because of precedence and reference points. Please do not be a reference point for a bad example. Walk in love towards all men by showing the love in your heart through demonstrated acts of kindness and grace.
4. Confront those you love with the Truth: We live in a generation where people will rather hurt your destiny than hurt your feelings. They would rather be in your good books today, than put your name in the Book of Life in eternity, they would rather conveniently sacrifice your acceptance into the kingdom of God tomorrow for their acceptance into your social circle today. People have become so weak and incapable of handling the truth so much that everyone has to be so careful in telling it. The Bible says that open rebuke is way better than secret love. Stop saying things like you didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings while you are hurting the person’s destiny. Sometimes, we have to sacrifice being seen as a good person for the ultimate love of that individual. Everyone wants to looks good before everyone and there’s nothing wrong with that but if we hide under such a shallow reason so as to stay quiet and watch someone die in their ignorance and destructive lifestyle, then that’s the definition of wickedness and utter selfishness.
Our feelings won’t matter in hell, what will matter is the truth. When you see someone living a destructive lifestyle, confront that individual with the truth. Now I’m not saying you should be obnoxious and offensive in order to pass across the truth, but by all means, tell that person the truth. Homosexuality, smoking, drinking, lying, gluttony, fornication etc and other works of the flesh highlighted in Galatians 5:19-21 are very destructive lifestyles, not only because of their eternal implications but also their earthly consequences as well. Don’t ever be afraid to call bad what the Bible calls bad because of the fear of man. The fear of man is bringeth a snare according to Proverbs 29:25… Be more committed to the truth than the acceptance of men. But even beyond lifestyles and habits, the greatest threat to eternal security is not believing in Jesus Christ while we are here on earth. Find every opportunity to preach the truth to people if you indeed share in your heart, God’s love for humanity. That indeed is the Ultimate Truth. If you are not telling people this, you probably do not love them after all.
John 3:16 (KJV): For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
The rich guy while burning in hell begged that Lazarus be sent to his house so as to confront his brethren with the truth. At that time, he knew that the implication of living on earth without the truth had very damning consequences and he could care less how the truth would be passed across to them. I’m sure that in retrospect, the rich man wouldn’t have minded at all if Lazarus literally slapped the truth into him while they were both on earth. Don’t be rude, intrusive or obnoxious, but by all means tell the truth.
So my friend, my charge to you as we enter into this new week is to find ways to be an example to the brethren near you and afar off and by all means, confront evil doers and unbelievers with the truth because these are powerful but practical ways to show that you love them.
Have a fantastic week ahead. I love you.