Last time we left off with Ruth and Naomi. Naomi left us with three gifts: lead by example, give others free will, and have proper expectations in our relationships. I want to talk more about our leading by example.

Jeremiah 31:33-34 (NIV) states, “‘This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel after that time,’ declares the Lord. ‘I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people. No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, “Know the Lord,” because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest,’ declares the Lord. ‘For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.'”

Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? What does it do to you? I have a habit of singing a song in my head and then before I know it I’m singing it out loud! What’s in my head just comes out automatically. There are times I’ve been asked to stop singing when in reality I have no idea I’m singing. Singing out loud is a natural process I do without thinking when I’ve rehearsed something time and time again in my head. The same is true for what we put in our minds and write on our hearts.

For as he thinks within himself, so he is. Proverbs 23:7a NASB 

Leading by example means finding out who we are on the inside. What does our soul really look like? Who are we when we go to the restaurant and the confused cashier gives us an extra $5 for change? Do we give it back or pocket it? Who are you when you’re out-of-town where no one knows you? Does your decision-making change for the better or the worse? Are you consistent in being the same person you are in public that you are in private? Who we are is determined on the inside and not how people see us from the outside.

Leading by example requires for our heart and soul be focus solely on God. God says He will put His law in our minds and write it on our hearts. How do we do this? We have to pray we will have a desire to read God’s law: the Bible. This book is not only law; it’s a love letter written to God’s people. As we read about God through these pages, the stories, the people, and the lessons learned from others’ successes and failures will be written upon our hearts. We will allow God to be our God and not distractions, other people, or idols.

Leading by example needs to be so natural that who we are is obvious to others. I love verse 34 when it says, “no longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, ‘Know the Lord,’ because they will all know me…” Our example is our best teacher. I had many teachers in school who told the class to do one thing, or act a certain way, but then I saw them doing just the opposite. I lost some confidence in them as my leader after this happened on multiple occasions. Yet, those teachers who had a quiet expectation of greatness, who exemplified that kind of living, too, were the ones I desired to be like. Wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t see teaching as one teaching and the other learning, but instead, if we’d see it as simply living out our calling in Christ?

Leading by example requires a consistent private/public life, requires our heart and soul to be focused on God, and requires a natural living where people just know we are God’s by being in our presence. We must be godly, holy, and righteous for others to realize we are different and worth following. Will we fail? Yes! Will we succeed? Yes! In all things, admit your failures and give your successes to God for His glory.

What area of your life do you need to work on in order to lead by example?

© 2017 Susan M. Sims

Image courtesy of freedigitalphotos.net/Vlado

 

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