If Someone Lived With You 24/7, would their Lives Get Better or Worse?
A lesson on modeled and lived spirituality
I had a really encouraging story happen to me recently.
Recently, I went to Vegas with a bunch of close friends. These are pastors, missionaries, and church friends from near and far just looking to have fun and catch up on life together.
As per my usual routine, despite being on vacation, I get up early in the morning to do my battery of routines: I do my morning prayers, spend time with Jesus, read my Bible, work out, etc…
One of the men happened to be up at the same time with me. He usually isn’t up at this time. He asked me what I was doing at this time and I told him my routine. He said, “Can I just tag along?”
“Sure,” I said
So he was next to me at Starbucks doing it himself. Reading his BIble, journaling. Then we hit the gym together and chatted about God and life.
He said something to me afterward which really encouraged me.
He said,
Phil, if I did this every day, my life would be completely different.
This is seriously not a boast of me. But isn’t that so encouraging?
Here’s a really provocative question:
If someone followed you 24/7 and did your habits, and lived your life, and did what you did - would they be closer to Jesus or further?
If they copied your routine, copied your speech, your attitude, your plan of attack, would they be more faithful to Jesus or less?
Our influence as leaders is not just our words. It is what we choose to give ourselves to.
I suppose that was the power of when Jesus asked his disciples to initially follow him.
He was not calling them to just to kingdom ideology. He was calling them to his lifestyle. He was calling them to fast, to pray, to be with the Father, to do the work of the father. And in that mimicking, they became more like Him.
How about you?
If people copied your life, would they grow closer to God or further?
You were made for goodness,
Phil
This is so powerful, Phil.
“Who’s more godly and better because of your presence?” Is such a great way to live!