Finish Line Faith, 8: Considering the power of a positive example

*By Matt Proctor

Chapter 3 of 2 Timothy lists a number of dangerous attributes of those whose example is bad for us. Paul says to avoid them.

In 3:10, Paul turns from negative examples to a positive example—himself. While the apostle certainly knew his own sinfulness (1 Timothy 1:15), he also pursued Christ so fervently that he often called others to follow in his footsteps (see 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 2 Thessalonians 3:7, 9; 1 Corinthians 4:6; 11:1; Philippians 3:17; and 4:9).

If the false teachers were imitation Christianity, then Paul was Christianity worth imitating. His life was a kind of living Bible for others to read.

So let me encourage you to ask yourself two questions.

An example for me

• First, Do I have someone in my life I can look to? Am I following in their footsteps?

Growing up, I watched my dad. I watched when he began every morning with his open Bible on his lap. I watched when he walked in the door every evening and his first order of business was kissing my mom.

I watched when my corporate executive dad picked up the mentally handicapped guys from the county home for church and treated them with as much dignity as he would the company president.

An African proverb says, “A good example is the tallest kind of preaching,” and my dad’s life is a sermon I’ll never forget.

We all need those examples in our lives, so keep your eyes open. It may be a parent or grandparent, a leader in your church, someone in your small group, or even someone whose life you’ve read about in church history.

Don’t put these people on a pedestal. But if they’re truly following Christ, you can learn by following them.

My example for others

• The second question to consider is this: Am I someone other people can look to? Do others want to follow in my footsteps?

We are called to live in such a way that we can say, as Paul, writes, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Can you say to others, “Drive as I drive, spend money as I spend money, watch TV as I watch TV, love your spouse as I love my spouse, serve as I serve, speak as I speak, think as I think, and walk as I walk”?

If you want finish-line faith, choose wise examples. If you want those around you to have finish-line faith, be a wise example.

Especially for Caregivers

• Whose example of faithfulness inspires you to care well for the declining person in your life?

• What are you doing—and what could you do—to encourage or even instruct other because of the way you’re giving care?—M.T.

Read: 2 Timothy 3:1-13
Pray: Thank you, God, for the shining examples who help me to cope with this life. Help me, God, as I seek to demonstrate an authentic faithfulness to you that is worth others’ imitating.

* This devotion is adapted with permission from a new book by Matt Proctor, president of Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri) (c) 2024. Finish Line Faith is a 12-week study of 2 Timothy perfect for any group or Bible study, and this devotion gives only a taste of the down-to-earth encouragement it provides. Click here for information on ordering copies for yourself or your group.