“Now you followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, perseverance, persecutions, and sufferings, such as happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium and at Lystra; what persecutions I endured, and out of them all the Lord rescued me” (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
In the passage above, Paul wrote to Timothy about how the young evangelist had followed the apostle’s example in various ways. It is important that we follow examples, in particular, the ones who are worthy of emulation. Paul told the brethren in Philippi, “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us” (Philippians 3:17). When Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he was mindful of the fact that he needed to set an example for them. He wrote, “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1).
What about us? Are we setting the example that we need to set before others? This was not just something for an apostle like Paul to do. Timothy was told to follow Paul’s example, yet he was also to “show [himself] an example of those who believe” (1 Timothy 4:12). He learned from Paul, and he was to conduct himself in such a way that others could learn from him as well. The same is true for us. We need to set a good example for others, which includes following the example that Paul set for Timothy.
When Paul wrote to Timothy about following his example, he mentioned nine ways in which he set an example. Let us notice each of these to see what we can learn from Paul and how we might be able to follow his lead and show the same type of example to those around us.Continue Reading
