This is part of the series The Life That Honors God, from 1 Timothy. Check out more from the series!

Right now, we are in the middle of a series, where I am sharing five different aspects of The Life That Honors God. This series, based out of 1 Timothy chapter 4 and chapter 5, is all about how to live a life that makes a difference to others, but most importantly, to God. Click on the link in the box above to see the introductory post, with links to all five aspects.

1 Timothy 4:12 tells us:

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.

To not let anyone look down on you does not mean to care less about what others think. On the contrary, it means to not give others a reason to look down on you.

Taking up the example means that you give credibility to what you teach; to how you live.

The authority of what you say comes from God but the credibility of what you say comes from your life.

This is why verse 16 says to watch your life and doctrine closely.

Your integrity as a believer, as a Christian, as a servant, is grounded in your speech, in your life, in your love, in your faith and in your purity.

If you are not living a life characterized and guided by truth, then it won’t be long before you are found out.

You hear about it all the time. Some very public leader of Christianity falls into sin. We’ve seen way to many horrible examples of this over the last few years. If you watch the news, you can’t help but hear of some prominent leader messing up. You hear it over and over and over and over.

Watch your life closely. Because people are watching you to see if you live any different, because you talk different, because you say you do.

If you are not living a life characterized and guided by truth, then it won’t be long before you are found out.

But if you are living a life characterized and guided by the truth, then it won’t take long for people to realize that as well.

Live your life above reproach, so that you can be an example for others to follow, as you follow Christ.

Does this mean you have to live a perfect life? Of course not. You will mess up. You will sin. But people will know if you are sincerely trying to live for Christ, or if you are putting up a false front.

To be a Christian means to be a leader. We are called to stand out. Listen to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:14-16:

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.

It’s simple. We are called to live the example for the world to see.

When it comes to taking on the example, what do you find to be easiest? Hardest? You can share your thoughts in the comment section below.