Being an Example
“Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:16
Being a teenager is tough. You are exposed to many good things and opportunities and also some challenging things that require a value system. There are a lot of things to manage, to take care of, and prepare for – starting high school, getting a driver’s license, graduating, going to college, Homecoming, prom, AP classes, summer plans, and your first job.
As a Christian, God calls us to be an example to those around us by the way we live. People are watching us whether we like it or not – our friends, our siblings, our classmates, kids we babysit, etc. – and our job is not to be perfect. That is an impossible task, and we will make mistakes even when our intentions are right.
Our job, as a child of God, is to be available to and honest with others and ourselves. It’s to try our best and admit when we are wrong. Our job is to love God and to make Him known to others in the best way that we can – ultimately, our job is to point others to Christ by our words and actions. That is a tough thing to do because that means we are seeking God and His wisdom, asking for His help and guidance, and listening for His still, small voice to guide us in the way we should go.
Being a Christian is about loving God, loving others, and looking for opportunities to show that love to the world around us. It’s not about being popular, snagging the cutest boy, or wearing the best-looking outfit. Many times, if we stand up for the right things and are examples by the way we treat others and how we conduct ourselves, it isn’t received positively. Because of that, we have to connect to our inner strength in Christ and the support of fellow believers around us so that we can remain strong in hard or lonely times.
Take away: Be an example for Christ by being committed, honest, and real. You don’t have to be perfect to be an example.