“…but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.”

2 Thessalonians 3:9 (NKJV)

George Orwell, an English writer, published the novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (political fiction) in 1949 in which he speaks of the government overreaching into the lives of its citizens. The residents of a particular locale were always under surveillance by telescreens. To ensure that the people never forgot that they were being watched, some signs displayed: “Big Brother Is Watching You.”

I remember reading this literary classic in high school, but most of the story has faded from my memory. I often speak of this novel when I think of how our modern society is watching us. Cameras and devices with cameras seem to be everywhere.

While sitting in church on Sunday, this novel came to mind. As I graced the pulpit with another female Pastor (the Pastor of the church), a little two-year-old girl quietly and graciously sat on the edge of the platform where we were seated. She never said a word, but she carefully watched our foot movements.

I was amused by her. She didn’t seem to show any interest in our faces, only our feet. The other female Pastor and I were tapping our feet to the cadence of the music. The little two-year-old started to tap her feet as well. She would watch our feet and then turn her head to watch her feet to ensure that her feet were in sync with ours. She continued to keep up this pattern of watching our feet then hers throughout the song.

I decided to put her to the test when the rhythm of the music changed. I changed my pattern to double time. She noticed the change and started watching her feet to make sure hers had changed as well.

As cute as this little girl’s actions were, it reminded me of the responsibility that we have as adults and authority figures…Somebody Is Watching You! And not only are they watching, but they are emulating what you are doing. Are you giving them a positive and wholesome example to follow?

Paul speaks on several occasions about being a positive example to those who were watching him. “Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example” (Philippians 3:17 NRSB).  “And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NLT).

Ministers of the gospel are admonished, “Don’t lord it over the people assigned to your care, but lead them by your own good example (1 Peter 5:3 NLT).

This spiritually dark world needs good, ethical, and moral role models—are you the example that the world needs? Somebody Is Watching!

Pray…

Lord, help me to be the example that is needed in this moral deprived world.

Posted by on Wednesday, July 24th, 2019 @ 11:17AM
Categories: Empowering, Encouragement, Inspirational