Saturday 10 September 2011

Read 1Thessalonians 1

For Example

Shepard the flock of God… [by] being examples to the flock.-1 Peter 5:2-3



A mother cheetah brought a live gazelle fawn to her 5-month-old cubs and released it. After the cubs made several unsuccessful attacks, the mother cheetah intervened and showed then how to “catch dinner”.



I observed a similar technique used by a life insurance salesman. After he told me about the benefits of a particular policy, he shared how much coverage he had for his own family. His words took on new meaning because he demonstrated by his own example how to insure a family adequately.



If we want to teach others the art of knowing God and serving Him, we can’t overemphasise the importance and power of example. That’s how Christ and His apostles communicated the same message. Their obedience to God was seen in flesh-and-blood terms that were easily understood. Leadership by example is contagious. When Paul mentioned the Thessalonians, who had become “followers of us and of the Lord,” he said that they also “became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia” 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).

Leadership is more than something that automatically goes with an official title like Dad, Mum, Pastor or Teacher. Those who want to lead and help others must first of all be good examples. -Mart De Haan



All in vain is splendid preaching

And the noble things we say;

All our talk is wasted teaching

If we do not lead the way. -Anon

You cannot teach what you do not know, nor lead where you do not go.

Prayer:

V Pray for those in the congregation that are persecuted for their faith.

V Pray that they will have the courage to hold firm to their belief in God and that when times are tough, they will turn to God for strength and guidance.