Daily Bread_September 24, 2013

Title: Examine Carefully the Leaders You Follow - - Their Talk and Walk

Text:

2 Timothy 3:10-13 (HCSB)
¹⁰ But you have followed my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, and endurance,
¹¹ along with the persecutions and sufferings that came to me in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra. What persecutions I endured! Yet the Lord rescued me from them all.
¹² In fact, all those who want to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.
¹³ Evil people and impostors will become worse, deceiving and being deceived.

Observation:

In every season of life you need to choose those you follow very carefully. Not everyone who says follow me deserves your loyalty. False teachers were present in the first century of the church, and they are present in the church today.

Notice that Timothy chose to follow the Apostle Paul, and he could not have had a better teacher and mentor.

Philippians 3:17-20 (HCSB)
¹⁷ Join in imitating me, brothers, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.
¹⁸ For I have often told you, and now say again with tears, that many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.
¹⁹ Their end is destruction; their god is their stomach; their glory is in their shame. They are focused on earthly things,
²⁰ but our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.

People tend to become like their leaders; hence, the admonition to be careful who you follow. When you are going through difficult times it pays rich dividends to have leaders who know what you are going through; who can identify with you in your suffering.

The Apostle Paul had experienced more suffering in his life than most, but knew that suffering has a purpose, and trouble don't last always. This promise kept him pressing for the prize.

2 Corinthians 4:17 (HCSB)
¹⁷ For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory.

Prayer:

Father God, my dear Father, I pray for wisdom to choose the right leaders, and to have the perspective that the Apostle Paul taught, and modeled in his life and ministry. Father, I choose to gladly forsake the temporary pleasures of this world for the eternal blessings and glory of my heavenly home. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

--

Acts 6:4 (KJV)
⁴ But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.

 

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