Be an Example

"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways."  Proverbs 23:26

The first Naval officer killed in the Iraq war in 2003 was twenty-seven year old Lt. Thomas Adams. He was one of seven who died when his Sea King helicopter collided with another aircraft over the Persian Gulf. Lt. Adams was serving as a liaison officer with the British Royal Navy at the time. In serving his county Thomas Adams was following a long family tradition. He was a descendant of President John Adams, and many other members of his family had served the nation from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War to modern times.

Adams’ legacy is a wonderful example of the legacy we can leave for the future by the way we live our lives in the present. President John Adams believed in the United States and devoted his life to helping form and build the new nation. His children and grandchildren followed in his footsteps because of the example that he set for them. By observing his ways the course of their lives was set—in a pattern that has lasted for generations.

Part of God’s plan for His people is that each generation sets an example for the next to follow. Paul wrote to the church at Corinth, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Each day we should be aware that there are others watching us, especially in our family and in our church family. They see how we respond to success and victory, and how we respond to difficulty and defeat. They watch our actions to see if they match with our words. They observe our behavior at home to see if it matches our conduct in public. While none of us are perfect, we should strive to continually set a godly example for those who come after us to follow. 

Live in such a way that as your children and grandchildren follow your example, their lives will bring honor and glory to God.

By Paul Chappell