Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.
Be an example in your Christian walk to others. That was Paul’s instruction to young Pastor Timothy. Timothy was the pastor of the church in Ephesus. Ephesus was a very wicked town. They worshipped the goddess Diana. Diana was the goddess was often associated with the Greek God, Artemis, as well. The town of Ephesus was completely sold out to this mythical worship:
About that time there arose no little disturbance concerning the Way. For a man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought no little business to the craftsmen. These he gathered together, with the workmen in similar trades, and said, “Men, you know that from this business we have our wealth. And you see and hear that not only in Ephesus but in almost all of Asia this Paul has persuaded and turned away a great many people, saying that gods made with hands are not gods. And there is danger not only that this trade of ours may come into disrepute but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis may be counted as nothing, and that she may even be deposed from her magnificence, she whom all Asia and the world worship.”
When they heard this they were enraged and were crying out, “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!”
The city was completely sold out to this false worship. So, what is Paul’s instruction to Timothy? Be an example of true speech, conduct, love, faith and purity. There is nothing more powerful than the example of a believer of Christ in the midst of non-believers of false gods. The contrast can’t be more clear. We, as believers, are to be examples of Christ followers. The contrast between day and night is powerful. Light exposes the dark. Paul instructs Timothy to “immerse” himself in these Godly practices so that “all may see your progress.” Why? Because, he states, “... by doing so you will save both yourself and your hearers.” Church leadership should be good teachers. But, church leadership should first and foremost be good examples.
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