On the way to church Sunday morning my husband and I were talking about how it is that we as believers need to be examples, and yet that is the last thing that we do. No one is perfect, including myself, and we all have our struggles but that is what Christ lives for. Are we weak yes, but it's through that weakness that God's power is made perfect (2 Cor 12:9-10). He is here to direct our paths (Proverbs 3:6), to set us free (John 8:31-36). However, although we are not perfect and know that as Christians we will always be criticized, we still have to be examples!  

I am just amazed at God's goodness and faithfulness. My heart and mind were racing on the way to church and when the sermon was given, God was reminding and reaffirming that every single thought and thing that came out of my mouth in the car on the way to church is what is expected of us as believers. How is it that we can constantly claim and express to people we know, whether it's through a conversation or facebook, that we believe in God, that we stand firm in His Word and in our faith, yet at the first sign of something going wrong, all that comes out of our mouth is such negativity? How is it that we can claim that we are new creations in Christ, yet we still go back to our old ways, to old habits doing things we know are not of God and being places that are not pleasing to Him? Are we human? Yes. Are there times that we just need to vent? Yes. We all struggle, we all have that right but we have to be careful how we use the rights given to us.  

People are always watching us, God is ALWAYS watching us. What examples (1 Ti 4:12; Tit 2:7) are we to each other but more importantly to non-believers and people whom God has planted a seed in but are still so frail in the faith? Don't we realize the harm we are causing to our relationship with God and the harm we are doing to those weak in the faith and those who don't have any?  

God truly spoke to me today and reminded me that I have to sit back and examine myself and my behavior. Is my behavior Godly or worldly? Am I setting and being an example to those around me, whether I know them or not? God is so faithful, so constant and His word is truth! He has told me, has told all of us, He will never let the righteous fall (Psalms 55:22). We are called to be examples, we are called to be salt and light.  

"You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  (Matthew 5:13-16)

By: Shirley Huesca