Being a Model Believer (3)

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me – put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:9 (NIV)

Read: Philippians 4

Consider: Being a model believer carries with it the responsibility to ensure that all aspects of our lives match up; in other words that there is no disharmony between what we say and what we do.

In Philippians 4 Paul holds himself up as the example or model for the believers to follow. This is not because he is so proud that he sees himself as worthy of imitation, but that he is confident he is following Christ’s example in his own life.

Notice the four things Paul mentions in verse 9; what they have ‘learned’, ‘received’, ‘heard’ or ‘seen’ in him, that was what they were to put into practice in their own lives. The words he uses would encompass the settings where Paul might formally teach them (eg in sermons, letters, etc.), together with the casual situations where they could observe his life and words in a relaxed setting. Paul wanted the believers in Philippi to see that what he said and did in the open, was what he said and did in private.

Getting back to ourselves. We are encouraged to be models for others, not just in the formal church or homegroup setting, but in every aspect of our lives. This means in church, in the home, in business or at leisure. The message our lives proclaim about Christ should be consistent.

Pray: Father, may our lives consistently speak of Christ, not just our words, but also our actions. Amen

Every blessing