“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” – Hebrews 13:7
Who do you have as a role model?
How did you decide they were a good role model?
We all have our role models, people we look up to, people we aspire to be like. When I was growing up, my Dad was a role model. Later, as I got more into music, Michael W. Smith was someone I aspired to be like. You may have chosen role models in your life and they may have even changed over time.
The verses in Hebrews 13 leading up to verse 7 describe the leaders spoken of in verse 7:
Then in verse seven we see that these leaders also spoke the Word of God with others. Following verse seven, we are warned to watch out for false teachings.
Choosing a Role Model
When we choose who our role models are, we need to choose people who speak the Word of God (and do so rightly) and then live out their faith in God. Sure, they may be great musicians, athletes, doctors, businessmen, etc., but they should also be Godly people who speak the Word of God faithfully and whose lives reflect their faith.
Now, all of this may sound really good, but the reality is that no one really lives up to this standard, which is why Hebrews thirteen continues on to talk about Jesus’ sacrifice for our forgiveness:
“And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.” – Hebrews 13:12
No person we choose as a role model (other than Jesus, Himself) will live up to the standard perfectly, which is why it’s important that the role model also be one who is humble, able to admit their failings, and who ultimately speaks and demonstrates a life of confession and forgiveness at the cross.
The thing most worthy of imitation is found in their brokenness before Christ.
You Are a Role Model
In your life you are a role model and leader. I’m not asking you to be a role model or saying you should try. I’m telling you that you are a role model whether you mean to be or not.
God constantly puts us in relationships with children, co-workers, friends, family, church members, and more and in those relationships we are role models. By the power of God we should seek to exhibit those qualities listed above.
We won’t do it perfectly. So, most importantly, we should speak the Word of God and show others Jesus’ work on the cross as we continually come before the cross for forgiveness ourselves, knowing that we are made holy, not through our works, but through the blood of Jesus.
No matter what skills you have or how great a moral human being you are, you can do that. You can honestly admit that you are a sinner who relies entirely on the forgiveness and grace of Jesus Christ.
Dear Jesus,
Thank you that You have put people in our lives as role models. Help me to choose Godly, faithful people to imitate. Help me, also, to be worthy of imitation for others. Thank You that when I fail and am not worthy of imitation in my works, that I can come to You and confess my sins and be forgiven through the blood of Jesus, which is the thing most worthy of imitation.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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