Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. – 1 Timothy 4:12
Yesterday, we talked about two ways you can be a role model to other generations. We talked about the importance of modeling a lifestyle for God and the significance of magnifying God’s Word. If you missed that devotional, I urge you to go back and read it. But for now, we’re going to continue on this topic and discuss two more ways to be a role model.
The third way you can be a role model for others is to minister the gift of God. One of the greatest things that one generation can pass on to the next generation is a servant spirit. The church thrives when every member discovers what their spiritual gifts are and puts them to use in the body of Christ.
Not only does God equip every believer with spiritual gifts, but God enables every believer to recognize those gifts, and He expects every believer to use those gifts in service to the church and to the world. If we model this well and teach other generations how to use their spiritual gifts, the church as a whole will be so much more impactful for the kingdom.
Finally, the fourth way to be a role model is to motivate the people of God. Every generation needs to show the next generation that quitting is not an option. We cannot quit growing in the Lord, and we cannot quit going for the Lord. There’s no such thing as being stagnant when it comes to being a Christian. You're either progressing in the Christian life or you are digressing. You are either going forward or you're going backwards. You are doing more for God this year than you ever have, or you are doing less.
Simply put, our generation needs to continuously show the next generation that we're always striving, because we’re never arriving. Good things, holy things, will happen if we can motivate the next generation to keep persevering and never give up.
Are you living the life of a role model? If not, I hope you were challenged by these two devotions and that you will allow the Holy Spirit to do a work in your heart and in your life so that you can model for others what it looks like to follow Christ.
Dear Lord, thank you for the spiritual gifts you’ve blessed me with. I pray that I would not only use my gifts to serve you and others, but that I would help others see their gifts so that they can do the same. And as we work together, we can continue to encourage each other and remind each other that quitting is not an option and perseverance is always the best choice. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Topics: Discipleship
