Be A God Example

“Let us, therefore, make every effort…so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:11



The oft-repeated story is worth repeating.


A man walks into the kitchen as his wife is hacking off the end of a just-bought rump roast and asks, “Why do you always cut off the end of a roast before you cook it?” Without hesitation she replies, “Because my mother always did.” Curious, the man calls his mother-in-law, asks the same question, and gets the same answer—“Because my mother always did.” Needing to know and not resting until he does, the man heads to the local nursing home, finds grandma, and asks, “Did you always cut off the end of a rump roast before you cooked it?” “Sure did,” she replies. “But why?” the man inquires. Grandma chuckles and responds, “Because my pan was too small to hold the whole thing!”


Roasts are one thing. Real life is another, but whether in the kitchen, at the office, or on the field, the people who look up to us are looking at us and living like us. “Let us, therefore, make every effort…so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” Since much of life is learned by example, we need to be living well. The ones behind us and beside us are learning the same way we did from those before us and around us—by observation and imitation. We need to diligently endeavor (“make every effort”) for our actions and attitudes to be stepping stones not stumbling blocks. We’re not the only ones who get hurt when we fall; the ones tracking our steps often trip in the same spot. “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. Do not cause anyone to stumble”(I Cor. 10:31-32).


“Follow my example as I follow the example of Christ”(I Cor. 11:1).
Live so you can repeat the Apostle Paul’s phrase.
And mean it.