Message
Reflecting Christ
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to all believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” - 1 Tim.4:12
This year’s PYCD theme is “Reflecting Christ”. As I meditated on this theme, I realized how powerful it is as a statement or testimony one can make regarding his or her life. When Paul wrote the letter to Timothy, and encouraged him to “be an example”, Paul was really telling Timothy to model or “reflect” Christ through his life.
Not only that, Paul’s exhortation was for Timothy to reflect Christ to “all
believers”. Many times our emphasis is to show the world that we are
Christians, but we tend to ignore the fact we have an obligation to reflect
Christ to our fellow believers. The letter to Timothy is kind of like one of
those “leadership” books that are so popular these days because Paul is
mentoring Timothy to be a strong, influential and effective leader for the
If we are able to reflect Christ to believers, then there is credibility to our testimony. From Paul’s emphasis given here, he is not worried about what the world thinks, because his experience was that the world thought believers were lunatics, but he wants Timothy (and that includes each of us) to live life in such a manner that we are not despised (disrespected) among the believers. Let’s realize that what our individual churches thinks or perceives of us is, in fact, important.
Let’s take it a step further. Paul tells Timothy to reflect Christ and be the kind of leader that others (especially believers) would follow. When you reflect Christ in your life, then others will take note and will want what you have.
In this passage, Paul explicitly calls out specific characteristics or areas of
life where Timothy is to reflect Christ:
In word: I believe there is a two fold lesson here. Believers are to become knowledgeable in the Word of God, and what comes out of the mouth of believers should glorify God.
In conduct: You heard the expression “actions speak louder than words”. Our reflection of Christ “in word” needs to be put into action through our lifestyle, our relationships, and our behavior.
In Love: I Corinthians 13 states that we can do many things to glorify God, but if it is not backed by love, it becomes worthless. Our conduct needs the love of God as its foundation to be consequential and meaningful.
In spirit: many of the older manuscripts do not have “in spirit” but the underlying significance of this characteristic is to have a zeal for what you do (Eccl 9:10 “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might...”) Don’t just do things out of an obligatory sense of duty or do things half heartedly, but as you reflect Christ through your life to others, do it with zeal. Do it because it is an overflow and an extension of the love of Christ from your heart. Go the extra mile, if needed.
In faith: As you put into practice those previous characteristics, you may not see tangible evidence of your effectiveness. The fruits of your labors may still be taking root in the ground. You may ask, I am sacrificing the pleasures of this world (Heb 11:25,26), but what do I gain? Paul is encouraging Timothy to walk by “faith” than by sight. Continue to reflect Christ, others will follow, lives will be changed because the character of Christ is being manifested…how could one not be touched?
In purity: Finally, we must realize, and not take it lightly, that our God is holy. “God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all” (I John 1:5). We may know the bible well, we may be acting with zeal and in love, and walking by faith, but if behind it all we are harboring sin, then we are not truly reflecting Christ, because He is the “lamb without blemish and without spot” (I Pet 1:19). Let us reflect Christ in all areas of our lives, both external and internal. Heb 12:14 states, “holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord”. Let’s live in purity so that we may stand in the presence of God and not loose the testimony we have among the believers.
Let me conclude with a powerful statement by Paul found in Philippians 3:17 “Join with others in following my example, brothers, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.” We know that Paul was a very passionate regarding his faith and his life was a wonderful reflection of Christ. Paul was so confident of his new found life in Christ that he tells others to follow his example and follow his pattern. It almost sounds arrogant on Paul’s part to say follow “my example” versus follow Jesus’ example, but Paul was so surrounded and imbedded in Jesus that he was confident his example was worth following. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to work in us to achieve such confidence and maturity in Christ that our life is worth following by others.
It is important to note that all these areas of our lives where we need to reflect Christ cannot be done by our strength. This exhortation from Paul is not meant for unbelievers because there is no way they can apply it without Christ living in them. As we allow the new life we have in Christ to take dominance by the working of the Holy Spirit, then we are truly able to Reflect Christ!
