The Power of Following the Right Example

“You are blessed whenever you follow my example.”

John 13:17 (GW)

Everybody has an example they follow. The question is whose example am I following?

If I don’t decide who my model will be in life, then other people will decide it for me, like the media, culture, friends, or coworkers. People will often try to tell me how to live my life.

But God is the only one who should be telling me how to live my life. And the only perfect example is Jesus Christ.

There are many people who after turning 40, discovered that they had based their life on an inconsistent and ineffective model because they were looking at the wrong example. One could be in, “Climbing the ladder of success, but after reaching the top realize that the ladder was leaning against the wrong wall! An investment of time in the wrong thing.” 

Jesus was able to get fishermen to drop their nets and follow him? He had the power to feed more than 5,000 people with a basket of bread and fish. He had the influence to upset the status quo of the whole Roman Empire.

Jesus wasn’t a wimp. He wasn’t a lot of things we don't make him out to be in our minds. He was the most counter-cultural revolutionary you could imagine, who led perfectly with grace and compassion and justice. It takes humility to follow that kind of Savior.

Everywhere Jesus went, he told people to follow him. He never said to follow a principle or a program or even a religion—but a person. He said, “You are blessed whenever you follow my example” (John 13:17 GW). 

Following Jesus involves a relationship. God wants me to know him personally! He sent Jesus so I could know him and love him for exactly who he is—the perfect example for me to follow.

In summary:

Everyone follows an example in life, whether intentionally or by default through influences like culture, media, or peers. But the only perfect and reliable model is Jesus Christ. Many people later realize they’ve spent years chasing success or approval based on flawed examples, only to find themselves unfulfilled. Jesus calls us not to follow a religion or set of rules, but to follow him—a revolutionary leader who embodied grace, justice, and humility. True blessing comes from choosing to follow his example and building a personal relationship with him, the only one truly worthy of leading our lives.

Take the Next Step of Faith

In Mark 10:52 it say, “And Jesus said to him, ‘Go; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he regained his sight and began following Him on the road.” (NASB)

While I don’t know what step everyone needs to take next, I do know that we need to take it.

A next step may be to accept Jesus Christ into your life or to be baptized. Maybe join a church, show more gratitude, free yourself from debt, make wise spending choices, go on a mission trip, be generous with someone in need, take time to rest, or choose to rely on God instead of yourself.

While I may not know what your next step is, I know this: You have one. God will never be finished taking you deeper in faith. There is always a next step.

For me, If I don’t take the next step, I’m going to get stuck in a rut. And the only difference between a grave and a rut is the length. If I don’t move forward in faith, my heart will grow cold, and I’ll grow more distant from God. He isn’t going to help me with steps two, three, four, or five until I take step one.

If I’m asking God to help me with something, he may be asking, “Why haven’t you done what I’ve already told you to do?” For instance, I may have been planning to do something. Stop planning and just do it.

Bartimaeus was a blind man who called out to Jesus in faith, believing that Jesus could heal him. Before Bartimaeus met Jesus, he was sitting beside the road. After he received his sight from the Lord, he “began following Him on the road” (Mark 10:52 NASB). 

Which of those two phrases describes our life right now: sitting beside the road or following Jesus on the road? Which of those two lifestyles would be more fulfilling? Which offers more joy, more meaning, and more satisfaction? Which one do we want to represent in our lives?

There’s only one way to follow Jesus on the road: Take the next step.

Faith is more than believing. Faith is more than thinking, talking, or having convictions about Jesus. Faith is action. It is movement; it is activity. Faith is something we do. In fact, the Bible says in James 2:14, “If people say they have faith, but do nothing, their faith is worth nothing” (NCV).  

Where do we get the faith to make a fresh start? There’s only one source: Jesus Christ.

“Everything that we have—right thinking and right living, a clean slate and a fresh start—comes from God by way of Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:30 MSG).

Bartimaeus had no idea that Jesus Christ was going to pass his way that day. To him, it was just another day. But God gave him an unexpected opportunity that offered him a fresh start.

God is giving us the same opportunity. So don’t delay. Take the next step of faith before the opportunity passes by. 

Feed My Mind with God’s Word

In Matthew 4:4 I read, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (NLT)

If I want a healthy mind, I must feed my mind with truth.

I know the importance of nutrition. Good food and good calories make me stronger and healthier and give me more energy. Bad calories and junk food harm my body. The same is true in my thought life. I must feed my mind not with junk or poison but with truth.

One time I had the privilege of lecturing at the University of Oxford. While there, I was invited to go to a meeting of Oxford Analytica—a group that has enormous influence in the world. Every day around 6 a.m., leading scholars would gather to get reports from all around the world about what’s happened in the last 24 hours, from crop prices rising in China to unrest in the Middle East. Then they would decide what needs to be said about it. By 11 a.m., a report would be given to groups that pay a lot of money for this information—such as governments and major corporations.

Oxford Analytica was founded on the idea that the best leaders make the best decisions when they have the best information. Even good leaders are more likely to make bad decisions if they don’t have good information.

To live the best life, the life God wants me to live, I need the best information. And I’ll find that information in the Word of God.

The Bible says in Matthew 4:4, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (NLT).

God wants me to make the best decisions and receive his best for my life. I do that by feeding on the Word of God throughout my day, every day.

In summary, I cannot not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God. So if I want a healthy mind, I must feed my mind with truth. I must feed my mind not with junk or poison but with truth. To live the best life, the life God wants me to live, I need the best information. And I’ll find that information in the Word of God. God wants me to make the best decisions and receive his best for my life. I do that by feeding on the Word of God throughout my day, every day.

I may also be tempted to satisfy a perfectly normal desire in the wrong way or at the wrong time. If I indulge I am trying to satisfy God-given desires in wrong ways. Many of my desires are normal and good, but God wants me to satisfy them in the right way and at the right time. Jesus was able to resist the devil's temptations because he not only knew scripture, but he also obeyed it. Knowing and obeying helps me to follow God's desires rather than the devil's. 

God Will Make a Way

In Proverbs 3:5-6 I read, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." (NIV)

I may be facing difficulties or direction. But if I trust God and keep on moving forward in faith, even when I don’t see a way, he will provide the path.

God’s plan will become more understandable as I head down the path he sets before me, but understanding is not a requirement for me to start down the path.

Proverbs 4:18 says, “The path of the righteous is like the morning sun, shining ever brighter till the full light of day” (NIV).

One day I will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. I’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for me.

In the meantime, do what Proverbs 3:5-6 says: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (NIV).

Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. He knows what is best for me. And I can trust him because he’s good.

I may not be able to see the end result, but God can. All those problems, heartaches, difficulties, and delays, all the things that make you ask “why”, will one day be clear in the light of God’s love.

But for now, I should be learning to trust God. So go ahead and keep heading down that path he’s laid out for me.

In summary, trust in the LORD with all my heart and lean not on my own understanding; in all my ways submit to him, and he will make my paths straight. I may be facing difficulties or direction. But if I trust God and keep on moving forward in faith, even when I don’t see a way, he will provide the path. As I head down the path he sets before me, I begin to understand. However understanding is not a requirement for me to start down the path. One day I will stand in the full light of eternity and view the big picture. I’ll see God’s purpose behind the path he specifically chose for me. In the meantime, trust in the LORD and lean not on my own understanding; submit to him, and he will make my paths straight. Be patient. God knows what he’s doing. He knows what is best for me. And I can trust him because he’s good. I may not be able to see the end result, but God can. All those problems will one day be clear in the light of God’s love. For now, I should be learning to trust God. So go ahead and keep heading down that path he’s laid out for me.

So I should trust in the Lord with all my heart. Never rely on what I think I know. Remember the Lord in everything I do, and he will show me the right way. I need to simply obey the Lord and refuse to do wrong.

Father, thank you for Your Word and Jesus as my savior and example. You want me and I need you in my life. Please give me Your strength for today and remind me in little ways that I can always believe in, have faith in and can trust you in everything. This includes being the authority for my life, the source of my self-worth and my hope for the future. You have my best interests in mind. So I ask you to help me to embrace the way you’ve made me; my gifting and passions. Help me to serve and fulfill the mission you have in mind for me. 

Today, I ask you for wisdom and guidance for my day, my work, my leadership, my interactions with others, doing well and making a difference in others lives. I pray all these things through your Son Jesus’ name, Amen. 

First Steps of Discipleship

In review of Ephesians 4:15 it says, “God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love — like Christ in everything” (Ephesians 4:15 The Message).

In Ephesians 4:1-16, Paul tells me to lead a life worthy of my calling from God. One that is always be humble and gentle. Patient with others. Makes allowances for others faults because of my love. Be united with other followers in Spirit. To bind myself with peace. I am to continue in my unity of faith and knowledge of God's Son so that I will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. If I do so, I will no longer be immature like a child, tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. I will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ. Christ is the truth. As a follower of Christ, I must be committed to the truth. This means my words should be honest and my actions should reflect Christ's integrity.

God wants me to grow up: “We are not meant to remain as children” (Ephesians 4:14 Phillips).

My heavenly Father’s goal for me is to mature and develop the characteristics of Jesus Christ, living a life of love and humble service. I don’t want to be a follower that grows older but never grows up, stuck in perpetual spiritual infancy, remaining in diapers and booties.

Spiritual growth is not automatic; it takes an intentional commitment. I must want to grow, decide to grow, make an effort to grow, and persist in growing. Discipleship is the process of becoming like Christ, and it always begins with a decision: “‘Follow me and be my disciple,’ Jesus said to him. So Matthew got up and followed him” (Matthew 9:9 NLT).

When the first disciples chose to follow Jesus, they didn’t understand all the implications of their decision. They simply responded to Jesus’ invitation. Fortunately that’s all I need to get started: Just decide to become a disciple and follow Him. He will teach me.

Bottom Line:

God wants us to grow up, know the truth and tell it lovingly.

What this means to me:

God wants me in every way to become more like Him, to know the truth and be able to tell and communicate it in a loving manner.

In summary, I need to be intentional about leading a life worthy of my calling from Him. Be humble, gentle and patient. Cut others some slack. Be committed to the truth. My words and actions reflect Christ's integrity.

Father I want to be humble, gentle and patient. I want your truth in my life. I want to be able to speak the truth, but in a loving manner, so that It would benefit others and not deter them from you. I pray this morning Father for your continued wisdom and guidance in how I look at those things that are placed before me. Allow me to clearly think through wise plans to implement operational excellence and truly delight our clients and serve our business partners. Allow me to communicate clearly, effectively and in a loving manner. Infuse me with your leadership qualities so that I can lead those who report to me and those who work with me. These things I pray in your Son Jesus name, amen!