SETTING A GOOD EXAMPLE (part four)
In week one we saw how Jesus set a good example. In week two we saw how Paul set a good example. Last week we saw that we can learn from bad examples, too. Today, we'll finish the series by looking at some more good examples so we can set a good example.
1) Mary was a good example.
I've talked about Jesus and Paul but what about the women? Although there are many women in the bible I could focus on, I will just focus on one-Jesus' mother-Mary. And although I could focus on multiple incidents in the life of Mary, I'm only going to deal with one-the birth announcement in Luke chapter one. Let's see what we can learn about Mary from this account.
Luke 1:26-38, "In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her."
We don't know much about Mary before the birth announcement but we can learn something about her character from how she was addressed by Gabriel. She was a woman of godly character since she was highly favored by God. Some manuscripts add at the end of vs. 28, "Blessed are you above all other women". Having the responsibility of bearing and raising the Son of God is no small thing. This holy obligation would not have been left to just anyone.
Not that God didn't equip Mary and Joseph to be Jesus' parents after this point, but Mary would've already possessed some virtuous and godly qualities beforehand. God did a work in Mary in preparation for the birth announcement. That's what God wants to do with us. He is doing a work in us. And we, like Mary, need to be willing participants in this endeavor so we can receive our special calling.
Obviously Mary wasn't serving God to receive a special calling, she had no idea this was coming. Likewise, we don't serve God for the purpose of receiving a special calling, but God does want to prepare us to be able to receive a special commission. God wasn't going to entrust the gift of the Messiah to just any woman. Likewise, God will not entrust his precious work to just anyone. That would not be wise.
You don't give something precious to someone who isn't ready to handle it. Kinda like the casting pearls before swine reference. If we are still in our 'swine' stage then we're not ready to receive any 'pearls'. Mary was a good example of godly character, which prepared her to receive this blessed news.
Next we see that after Mary receives this amazing declaration from Gabriel she asks how this would be possible. Mary's question is not one of doubt but perplexity. Earlier in chapter one, you read about Gabriel's announcement to Zechariah that he and his wife Elizabeth were going to have a son. Zechariah's response did not please Gabriel.
Luke 1:18-20, "Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.” The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their proper time.”
Although Zechariah's response seems understandable, it was a statement of doubt. He was asking for proof. We know Mary's response was different because we don't see Gabriel responding the same way. Therefore, Mary's was asking a question while Zechariah was questioning. There's a difference between the two.
When we question the Lord we are doubting. But when we ask questions we're trying to get clarification. And we see Gabriel giving Mary that clarification. Mary was a good example of showing us that it's okay to ask questions.
Then Gabriel explains further and he cites what has happened to Elizabeth to show that although what was just explained to you seems impossible it's not-for all things are possible with God. Then we have Mary's response in vs. 38. First, she says, "I am the Lord's servant". The NASB has the word bondslave instead of servant; which is a stronger term. Mary is saying, "I am God's property-let him do with me as he wishes."
That's a powerful statement. Mary is saying, "I don't understand all of this and I'm overwhelmed with the thought of it but I know God has brought me this far and he is loving and wise and he will only do what is holy and good; therefore I trust in his purposes. I have served God and will continue to do so." What an example of faith.
I don't know if she thought about it right then or shortly afterward but I'm sure she contemplated what would happen as a result of this. How will Joseph respond to this news? What will her parents think? How will the townspeople react? She would concern herself with the possible fallout from this-Joseph wanting nothing to do with her. Her parents ostracizing her. The townspeople labeling her a loose woman and driving her from her homeland.
Who would take care of her? Who would want to marry her after that? Was she destined to live the rest of her life alone? How was she going to be able to raise this miraculous child? For Mary, these unanswered questions would be dealt with by believing that God would work it all out; she just needed to trust and obey.
What about us? Will we overcome our very real concerns and choose to fear not? Will we conclude that we don't need to worry about anything because God will take care of it? Will we stay strong, steadfast and immovable in our faith? Will we follow Mary's good example?
2) The Thessalonians were good examples.
1st Thess. 1:2-10, "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.
You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead —Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath."
Here we see some things the Thessalonians modeled from the examples laid down by Jesus first and Paul and his companions second. First, we see that they were an example of faith in action. Paul said, "your work produced by faith". Their faith was not just verbal, it was active; it produced fruit. And that's what is needed to show genuine faith.
James 2:17, "In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." Dead faith does not save; only living and active faith does. The Thessalonians showed their faith by what they did and how they lived. Paul said in Eph. 2:10 that we were created in Christ Jesus to do good works. Faith needs to produce things in accordance with our new nature. How we treat one another, how we behave, the words we say, all will be indicative of the changes that are taking place within us. But if our thoughts, attitudes and behaviors don't change then our faith is dead.
Then Paul highlighted their "labor prompted by love". They were producing good works but by what motive? Their motive was love-love for God and love for each other. Paul told us in the first three verses of 1st Cor. 13 that if what we do isn't driven by love then nothing is gained. Love must be the catalyst for my works. If the motive is attention or greed or compulsion then it's shallow and deceptive. I'm not doing this because I care about you or even God; I'm doing this because I care about me or because I feel like I have to.
But the Thessalonians' work was a labor of love. And that would stem from an understanding of and an appreciation for God's love and grace. When what I do is done because I know how much God loves me and I want to give back, then it will be a labor of love. If my deeds are done out of a sense of gratitude for his mercy and grace then I will want to show others that same love, mercy and grace because it benefits them and pleases God. Therefore, it's not about me-it's about God and others; constituting a labor of love.
Then Paul points to their "endurance inspired by their hope in Jesus". The Thessalonians were dealing with 'severe suffering'. This could be what is described in Acts 17:1-9. Paul and Silas were preaching Christ in Thessalonica. The Jews had a problem with their success and stirred up some shady characters to form a mob and start a riot. They went looking for Paul and Silas and somehow ended up at this guy Jason's house. When they didn't find Paul and Silas they dragged Jason and some others before the officials, spread some slander and created some turmoil.
Yet, despite the obvious persecution the church was established there. And their hope in Jesus fueled their endurance. They didn't shy away from continuing to be an example in faith and love. They pressed on despite their circumstances. They knew that was the example set by Jesus and Paul and they imitated that.
But I doubt they imitated just to be like them but because they saw the value in doing so. They saw the need to endure and they saw the fruit of endurance. They saw that they could be an example for others and they saw the strength and bond created from not giving up during this difficult time. And they even had joy despite their severe suffering. And in doing so became a model for the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
They also became a model for them in turning from idols to serve the living and true God. Thessalonica was a major, bustling seaport city. It was an important trade center. It's population was around 200,000. So it's no doubt that with all the traffic going through there from people from all different lands that many different gods and idols found their way into the city. But the believers turned from the worship of these gods and idols and embraced the one, true God that Paul and Silas preached when they arrived there.
At one time we too served dead idols. We idolized people or money or power or status, whatever it was. We may have come from a different religion or belief system. We may have come from no belief system except self-preservation. Our idol may have been alcohol, drugs, gambling, food, sex or some other addiction. These are dead and can offer nothing but temporary satisfaction. It's when we turn away from them and embrace the living and true God that we find joy and fulfillment.
And then, we will be an example like the Thessalonians were. They reflected the character of Christ. And it wasn't superficial, it was genuine; otherwise it wouldn't have lasted. When going through a severe trial you can only fake it for so long before you cave in under the pressure. You can only serve for so long before your real motives shine through. You can only fake love so long before your true heart is revealed.
The Thessalonians were legitimate and it showed. They didn't put on a show; they showed what they were all about. Paul was thankful for their example, which became known everywhere. They were an inspirational model for other believers. They led by example.
"When Ben Franklin wished to interest the people of Philadelphia in street lighting he didn't try to persuade them by talking about it; instead he hung a beautiful lantern on a long bracket before his own door. Then he kept the glass brightly polished and lit the wick every evening at the approach of dusk. It wasn't long before Franklin's neighbors began placing lights in brackets before their own homes, and soon the entire city awoke to the value of street lighting and took up the matter with interest and enthusiasm."
Ben could've talked about the lighting and perhaps have been successful in moving people to give it a try. But he was most convincing when they saw his example themselves and could see his proposal in action. Not that we should stop telling others about Jesus and just simply live out our faith. But living out our faith will be the most persuasive thing we can do to bring others to the waters of baptism.
There's an English Proverb that goes, "example is better than precept". The teaching is good but when it's shown along with being spoken it's more impactful and convincing. Jesus didn't just talk about washing one another's feet, he set the example by doing it himself; he showed his teaching in action-as he did with everything else.
What about us? Do we show Jesus to others? William Barclay said, "A saint is someone whose life makes it easier to believe in God." A boy was consistently coming home late from school. His father told him, "if you come home late again, you'll be punished". The next day he came home late. He went past his mother, who said nothing and then he saw his father, who said nothing.
That night at dinner, the boy sat down to a piece of bread and a glass of water. He looked at the plates of his parents and they were full of meat and potatoes. He knew this was his punishment and he felt terrible. The father waited for the full impact to sink in. Then, he took the boy's plate and exchanged it with his own. That made a lifelong impact on the boy. He said, "All my life I've known what God is like by what my Father did that night." He saw his father take his punishment upon himself giving him glimpse of what Jesus did for him.
Jesus didn't just teach, he showed. Paul did likewise. The Thessalonians showed their faith and it made an impact on others. What about us? What are we doing to influence people to be godly? The Italian word for influence is influenza. Our use of influenza comes from the Italian phrase influenza di freddo (influence of the cold). We are contagious people; our example spreads to others as easily as the flu.
Do you want to bring about a revival? It starts with you. One of the foremost authorities on the subject of revivals and awakenings was Dr. J. Edwin Orr. In the early 1970's when Dr. Orr was presenting a series of lectures on revival at Columbia Bible College, a student approached him. "Dr. Orr, besides praying for revival to occur, what can I do to help bring it about?" Dr. Orr replied, "You can let it begin with you." Change starts with us; we need to be the influencers. We need to set a good example for others.
