Tag Archives: Being a Role Model

Role Models

Lent
March 14, 2019

Scripture Reading: Philippians 3:17-4:1

Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us. For many live as enemies of the cross of Christ; I have often told you of them, and now I tell you even with tears. Their end is destruction; their god is the belly; and their glory is in their shame; their minds are set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and it is from there that we are expecting a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will transform the body of our humiliation so that it may be conformed to the body of his glory, by the power that also enables him to make all things subject to himself. Therefore, my brothers and sisters, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, my beloved.

My first thought every time I read this scripture is to ask myself the question, “Would I have the audacity to advise anybody to imitate me?” I do not think I would ever say it. The truth is as we are called to imitate Christ, people we introduce to God’s love as Paul did will see us as role models whether we invite them to or not. That is a very scary and humbling thought. I do think that Jesus was fully human and thus was as likely as you or I are to shout an expletive if we hit our hand with a hammer. Thus, I do not think we are prescribed to be holier than thou. The real modeling comes with our responses when we see someone hungry, thirsty, without appropriate clothing, sick, or in prison. All these conditions add up to addressing the need for righteousness, justice in our world today.

There are as many ways of addresses these issues as there are people on the earth. Some commit their lives to just one of these like those working to bring safe water to the Congo who are committing a lifetime of resources and talent to letting justice flow literally via streams of living water. Others excel at one-on-one mentoring of the poor taking care of immediate needs while providing training and education targeted toward self-support and self-sufficiency. Many throughout our land are making progress in switching our civil justice system from punishment to restorative justice, helping those who break the law become whole as productive members of society.

I keep coming back to the need to be intentional about our lives as followers of Christ because we never know when someone might be following us on their pathway to God.

Prayer: Lord, help me to be honest about who I am and my limitations while I intentionally seek to model my life after Jesus’ example. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights are reserved.

Lydia, a Business Woman

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April 26, 2016

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:9-15

On the sabbath day we went outside the gate by the river, where we supposed there was a place of prayer; and we sat down and spoke to the women who had gathered there. A certain woman named Lydia, a worshipper of God, was listening to us; she was from the city of Thyatira and a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly to what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us, saying, ‘If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.’ And she prevailed upon us. –Acts 16:13-15

I grew up on a farm in central Oklahoma and attended church and school in a very small town located about six miles from my home. The town’s population in 2013 was 158. I am not sure there are any businesses left there. There are still a couple of churches. It was probably twice that size during my childhood. It served a much wider community of farmers and ranchers in every direction. There were three gasoline stations, two grocery stores, one cafe, a farm implement company, and a lumber yard during the 1950’s that I remember.

The lumber yard was owned and operated by a man and wife and her name was Lydia. This Lydia has always served as my image of the Lydia who heard God’s call through Paul’s preaching in our scripture today. I remember her as a short round person, plain-dressed like most of us; more apt to sell purple than wear it. I think she ran the business side and her husband handled the warehouse of wood and other building materials. She was normally the person who took your order and received the payments. This couple was also very active members of my church. Served in many capacities, were always willing to help, and worked to keep the church going in good times and in bad. Her parents picked a prophetic name for her.

Described here as a worshipper of God, Lydia was most likely a gentile who followed the Jewish way, although she did not convert. Paul’s teachings must have provided insights for her that she needed. She became a follower of Christ and still serves as a role model for us today.

What kind of role model are we for the children in our world? Are we spreading the love of Christ to all?

Prayer: Lord, we thank you for our ancestors in the faith who laid a smooth path for us to follow. Help us do the same for our descendants in the faith. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.