An example in conduct

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conversation, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. – 1 Timothy 4.12

Words are important. Just as important, and going alongside them, is our conduct. If our works don’t back up our words our words are meaningless. My conduct must show a changed life. An old children’s song used phrase like this:

Oh be careful little eyes what you hear
Oh be careful little ears what you hear
Oh be careful little mouth what you say
Oh be careful little hands what you do
Oh be careful little feet where you go

It’s a cute little chorus but it is really sage advice for all of God’s children – not just little children that we work with.

How do our works appear? Sometimes people hear our words and watch our lives to see if they match up. If we say one thing and don’t back it up with our actions we destroy anything our words have achieved.

I’m not an old man, but I have been around a while. I have sadly seen a lot of younger people I know and often have worked with wander from a walk with God or even seem to walk away from the faith. The stats back me up. There has been a huge falling away of people who walked with God as youth and now do not.

I understand that every person is responsible for their decisions, but I think my generation must are going to have to answer for our actions. We preach Christ and we preach the importance of holiness and purity and yet too many Christians have ignored those things and others because of political expedience. Christians have sacrificed so much of what we preach to achieve what works for us politically. I speak especially to American Christians who have been willing to excuse wickedness to achieve political goals. I can’t tell you the number of young Americans and non-Americans who are astounded at the acceptance and support of wicked leaders because they fit their political views.

These actions, this conduct, this behaviour is turning away from Christ. The example being shown does not is not the example that wins men to Jesus. The word of God speaks of love, compassion, caring, meekness, humility, and gentleness. Is that the kind of example we are seeing from God’s people? Or is it an angry, fearful, proud, brawling conduct that seems to be always looking for a fight.

Is my conduct in this world really an example of Jesus’ conduct when He was on this earth?