Examples
I once joined a discipleship group that met at 5:30am on Wednesday mornings. The disciple-maker who led it taught slowly, so everyone could write down what he said about Greek verbs in their notebooks. Even though I lived next door to him, he never offered to spend time together outside of the discipleship meetings. After losing sleep for a couple of months, I decided it would be easier to get the same content from books. The next week, when I woke up at a more reasonable hour, I felt happy that I hadn't gone to the discipleship meeting, and never went again.
Read 2 Timothy 1:13-2:13
On social media and network television, hundreds of millions of people follow Kylie Jenner. Her devoted fans power a business empire that sells everything from makeup to clothing to drinks. If you want to be like her, you need to buy from her. Timothy doesn't need a brand to buy, or the gospel explained to him one more time, but examples to imitate. Even as he is abandoned by former friends and facing the prospect of death, Paul writes from a prison cell to encourage one of his closest friends to remain faithful to Jesus. The primary example is Jesus, who rose from the dead. It's through knowing him that we gain salvation and, one day, eternal glory. It's his faith and love that sets the pattern, and it's by his grace that we gain the strength to obey. He's the one who made a good deposit into our lives, and sent the Holy Spirit to live within us so we can hold onto this gift. We die with Jesus, live with Jesus, endure with Jesus, and reign with Jesus. The whole Christian life finds its rhythm and purpose in knowing him. Whether we are faithful or faithless, we can count on him to be a faithful friend. Paul isn't shy about offering himself as an example to follow. He tells Timothy to copy not only his pattern of teaching, but his way of life. Likewise, Onesiphorus ministered alongside them in Ephesus; he then faithfully found and served Paul in an obscure prison cell in Rome. Paul reminds Timothy of three more ordinary examples. Soldiers suffer together to please their commander. They follow orders, set apart from the ordinary routines of life. Athletes only win prizes if they follow the rules. Farmers eat first, but only if they work hard so there's a harvest. We have to ask God to help us understand what these examples, drawn from everyday life, can teach us about following Jesus. I prefer to make disciples by writing Bible studies from the comfort of my home office. It's easier than loving particular people. But Paul endured the humiliation and suffering of imprisonment, and then martyrdom, because he wanted to be like Jesus. It was worth it to him to die in order that others could find life in Christ. Everyone imitates someone. To pass this message on, we ask God to graciously strengthen those who would imitate what they see in us.
In this passage, what does Paul say that Jesus does for us and with us?
Whose example of following Jesus are you copying? If no one comes to mind, what example in the Bible can you reflect on?
What's one thing about how you follow Jesus that you would be happy for someone else to copy?
Pull out your calendar and look at the ordinary routines you're already doing. It could be exercising, eating, running errands, or volunteering. Now think of one person you could invite to join you, and text them: "I'm doing ___ on ____. Want to come along?" As you spend time together, ask the Holy Spirit how you can show what it means to follow Jesus.