We all need a good role model. It might have been a helpful teacher at school or a Youth Leader. It might even have been our father, but in these days there is a shortage of good moral role models. This is being said in various walks of life. If you are a leader or aspire to being a leader or are in a position of leadership, be the best that you can be.
Jesus Christ is the finest and highest role model any man or woman could wish to follow and emulate.
Some people are dogged by their past. Something happened a few years ago and they can never get over it. Their background was not the best and they find it hard to escape and emerge.
Role models can guide us, lead us, and help us to overcome things we might find difficult to overcome on our own.
Jesus' mother, Mary, was pregnant with Him before she finally married Joseph. The babe in her womb was conceived supernaturally and miraculously by the Holy Spirit.
Comments were made by many, but Jesus overcame that because He knew the truth as did Mary and Joseph.
Right to the very end of the Bible, God speaks frequently about those who overcome. Read the seven letters which the risen, living and ascended Lord Jesus Christ wrote to the seven churches. At the end of each letter the point of overcoming is underlined and emphasised.
Jesus knew Who he was. He was Saviour, Lord and King, yet one night He took a towel and washed the feet of His disciples. That was the duty of the lowest servant in the house.
Jesus stooped to serve. Jesus performed that most menial task before all His chosen men, showing them how to be great. Stoop and serve. Not many role models are prepared to teach us this level of service. What an example!
Jesus never blamed the government for anything that was wrong, and Rome was the occupying power.
The New Testament actually speaks quite positively about the Roman soldiers. Never once is any soldier ever told to leave the army.
He did not permit those who failed Him, and let Him down, stop Him from doing what God wanted Him to do. Jesus never allowed others to divert Him or sidetrack Him from His main work. He kept what was important, important.
He forgave the weaknesses of vulnerable men and used these incidents to teach, encourage and strengthen us today. He had, and has, a future for the most unlikely candidates. Let that inspire and motivate you.
Even now He is praying to the Father for those who need His help. If you have a role model who prays for you and who teaches and encourages you to pray you are richly blessed.
In every walk of life Jesus Christ sets us the highest possible example. What better role model could you look for?
Sandy Shaw
Sandy Shaw is Pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship, Chaplain at Inverness Prison, and Nairn Academy, and serves on The Children's Panel in Scotland, and has travelled extensively over these past years teaching, speaking, in America, Canada, South Africa, Australia, making 12 visits to Israel conducting Tours and Pilgrimages, and most recently in Uganda and Kenya, ministering at Pastors and Leaders Seminars, in the poor areas surrounding Kampala, Nairobi, Mombasa and Kisumu.
He broadcasts regularly on WSHO radio out of New Orleans, and writes a weekly commentary at http://www.studylight.org entitled "Word from Scotland" on various biblical themes, as well as a weekly newspaper column.
His M.A. and B.D. degrees are from The University of Edinburgh, and he continues to run and exercise regularly to maintain a level of physical fitness.
Sandy Shaw
sandyshaw63@yahoo.com
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