Lead By Example

“Simon says put your hand on top of your head.”

“Simon says jump up and down on one foot.”

Do you remember the childhood game of “Simon Says”? Each participant would follow the instructions of the leader “Simon” as he/she would try to get someone to make a mistake by putting their hand on their shoulder instead of their head. This is a fun follow-the-leader game for many children.

Life is like a game of “Simon Says”. Each of us has a Simon in our lives and each of us are a Simon to another person. Paul makes a bold statement as he wrote to the church in Corinth to “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ”. (1 Corinthians 11:1) There are a lot of examples a person can choose to follow.

I began to wonder what kind of an example am I to others? To tell someone to follow you as you follow Christ means you must be following Jesus with your whole heart. You must be the example of Jesus to the world.

As a parent, I want my children to love Jesus with everything in them. As a Pastor, I want people to live lives blamelessly, experiencing the freedom of Christ. As a wife, I want my husband to love and serve Jesus more than he does me. As a daughter, I want my parents to always compassionately point me to Christ. If I desire those qualities in others, then I must be willing to do those things myself as an example of who Jesus is in my life.

What example are you to others? Do you love like Jesus loves? Do you serve like Jesus serves? Are you forgiving, merciful, compassionate, and joyful?

There are Simons who would try to trip you up and take your eyes off of Jesus. Don’t be a Simon in the lives of those around you. You will make mistakes, you will not be perfect. We can find hope knowing God called King David a man after his own heart. Even though David committed adultery and committed murder, he repented and served God with his whole heart.

You too will mess up. No one is perfect but we can be forgiven. To those you are an example to, be quick to own up to your mistakes and seek forgiveness from others and from God. For in the words of Paul the Apostle, “I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.” (1 Corinthians 10:33)