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Being an example…even in our weakness

For you yourselves know how you should imitate us…

…we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. (2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9)

I read those above passages today, and found myself once again painfully aware of how often I fall short as an example.

And yet, God reminded me today, “Part of being an example is letting people see you work through your flaws. And as you go through that process, to see you walking, not under constant feelings of condemnation, but under grace.”

So I’m praying today that not only would people see that in me, but that I would extend to them the same grace God’s given me as they work through their own shortcomings.

The grace of our Lord Jesus be with us all.

Be an example? Me?

For you yourselves know how you should imitate us…we did it to make ourselves an example to you so that you would imitate us. (2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9)

Those words really hit me this morning. Paul’s words are pretty bold: “You yourselves know how you should imitate us.”

Honestly, I don’t know if I feel that bold.

I see all my flaws. I see all the areas I still need to grow.

Why would people want to imitate me?

But God calls all of us to make disciples. Not just the pastors. Not just the church leaders. All of us. He calls all of us to make ourselves examples to the people in our lives so that they would imitate us.

And I suppose that means them not only seeing our strengths and imitating them, but seeing us working on our flaws as well.

And to see us moment to moment, day by day, walking in God’s grace, not under condemnation for our flaws, but with full confidence as children of God.

Father, I desire to be someone others want to imitate. In a lot of ways, I feel unworthy of that.

But as people watch me, let them see not only my admirable qualities that they want to imitate, let them also see the grace I walk in each day as I’m working on my flaws. In Jesus’ name, amen.