Hey, good morning, everyone. Welcome to another Morning Devotion with Brother Mark, where we are walking together on our walk with Christ. Today is August the 24th, 2021. Well, our inspiration for today's podcast is found in 1 Timothy 4.12. Sunday night, our brother in Christ, Jerry Howard, spoke from 1 Timothy 5. He reviewed his teaching from chapter four, and he highlighted our text, reminding us that Paul taught Timothy six places where he could be an example to believers. In this way, Timothy would put forth a positive picture of his maturity. And because of this picture, he would be removing any ground where some may accuse him of immaturity. He would be able to keep others from despising his youth. So let's read that quickly. 1 Timothy chapter number four, verse number 12 says, let no man despise thy youth, but be thou an example of believers in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, and in purity. And so we're going to use that as the scripture, the text for our next few devotions. And so as I was listening to brother Jerry speak, I was thinking about these six areas and how they would be a good example for us, or they would be a good teaching for us to consider. We do need to be an example of what a believer ought to be. and an example to other believers. So to the lost world, we need to be an example of what a believer should be. And then to other believers, we need to be an example or give them an example to follow. And you know, as I was thinking about this text, I was thinking about today, I was thinking about how those of you who watch these daily videos, you kind of get some insight into my heart. You kind of get some insight into the places where God is dealing with my heart, what he's showing me from the scripture. You're seeing the places where God is teaching me. And so the word to me is I need to be an example in these areas. So let's get into the study. So in this passage, Paul is giving Timothy, who is a young pastor, some instruction. And we know that this passage is specifically designed for pastors. However, we all can glean from them and we can all put them into practice in our lives because we all do need to be an example in word. So how should a believer be an example in word? Robertson's word picture says, in conversation as well as public speech. The NIV study Bible has this comment. Timothy needs to live out the force of his own convictions in daily, practical, and relational ways, not merely formally or officially. And so what Timothy learns, it needs to be practical in his life, not just a formality or just knowledge that he has. So you need to see the evidence of what Timothy has learned in his life. So today we all need to think about how we should be examples to others in the Word. We should have a good working knowledge of the Word of God. Paul goes on to tell Timothy the importance of reading in the next verse. We need to learn, we need to read, to learn, to grow so that we can disciple others. We need to be able to open the Word of God to share scriptures which comfort, instruct, and admonish us. Also, we need to be examples in the words we say. My mom always said, pretty is as pretty does. In other words, a young lady may have a beautiful appearance, but if her actions are ugly, her outward beauty means little. We need to make sure that our words match our confession, that we say that we are a Christian and that our words prove that. And also, if we give off this this appearance of being a Christian, then our words ought to give that appearance. As my dad always used to say, it's better to keep your mouth shut and be assumed a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. You may have a very studious appearance, but then you open your mouth and it's out the window. So we want to make sure that our words match up with our confession. We want to guard against our words discrediting our confession. We must guard against our words being filthy. We may say we have faith, but if our words are bitter, what impression do we give? Listen to the words of James in James 3, 8 through 13. But the tongue can no man tame, it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father, and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? There's lots more to be said about that passage, but we want to make sure that our words You know, the words are the revelation of what's in our heart, and we want to make sure that our words are pure words, not bitter words. For many, their speech betrays who they say they are. So today, I want you to consider, are you being an example to others in word? Are you studying, reading, meditating upon the word of God, the words of life? Are you being an example to others in the words you say? What kind of words you say are your example. And what kind of words would be said if others followed your example? Would they hear words of life or would they hear words of death? Would they hear blessing or would they hear cursing? So you want to be an example. So make sure your words are an example today. Let's pray. Lord, today we thank you for the perfect example that we have in Christ. We are thankful that he taught us to be faithful in all things. We are also thankful for the godly examples of men such as Paul. He told us to follow him as he followed Christ. We are thankful today that he left us an example of how to follow Christ. Lord, our minds also go to others who have been godly examples for us in this area. We thank you for them. But today, Lord, we pray that you would help us to be that example to others. Help us to be an example in the word, both in the word of God and in the words that we say. Lead us in paths of righteousness for your namesake. Help us to be an example in word today. In the name of Jesus, we pray, amen. Until tomorrow, Brother Mark signing off.