October 28
“Model” Examples
Because of the extravagance of those revelations, and so I wouldn’t get a big head, I was given the gift of a handicap to keep me in constant touch with my limitations. Satan’s angel did his best to get me down; what he in fact did was push me to my knees. No danger then of walking around high and mighty! At first I didn’t think of it as a gift, and begged God to remove it. Three times I did that, and then he told me, My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ’s strength moving in on my weakness. Now I take limitations in stride, and with good cheer, these limitations that cut me down to size—abuse, accidents, opposition, bad breaks. I just let Christ take over! And so the weaker I get, the stronger I become. ––2 Corinthians 12:7-10, MSG
mod·el ˈmä-dᵊl
a usually miniature representation of something
also : a pattern of something to be made
Who’s your role model? Do you have a person whose lifestyle you’d like to emulate? A public figure, famous Christian, spiritual mentor, or an older friend? The thing that surprises men is when I tell them that no matter where they are in life—good or bad, happy or sad—they are a role model for more than just one other person.
No matter where life has you right now, man of God, you are a role model for more people than you can possibly imagine. People at work who quietly observe your walk with Christ … the other parents on your child’s soccer or softball team … the people on social media who read your posts … younger or less spiritually seasoned believers at church … childhood friends you still stay in touch with (or even those you don’t).
And when I say you are a role model, what I mean is someone who is “a miniature representation of something.” From a spiritual standpoint, we are, quite literally, little “christs” with a lowercase c. We don’t become a believer in Jesus and then wait to “grow into” being a role model. If God had a recruiting office, the sign outside would announce: Perfect People Need Not Apply.
I appreciate Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the passage above where Paul talks about “the gift of a handicap.” Paul pleaded with God three times to take away his “thorn in the flesh,” and God said no. Why? Because He knew that there was a big prize—a higher goal—awaiting Paul that required a full realization of his human limitations. Context. Paul finally surrendering and saying, “Despite this weakness, this handicap that I hate, I give it to God. I trust His wisdom more than my need to be healed.”
Man of God, that weakness, flaw, or thorn in the flesh that you thought disqualified you from being a role model? It doesn’t. When you can accept the fact that God has always and will always use broken people, the journey of being a role model takes on a whole new meaning. Don’t cheapen His love for you by refusing to forgive yourself for past mistakes, or self-cancel because you don’t feel like you know what you’re doing. (Join the club!)
We rapidly accelerate forward in our faith journey when we embrace the reality that by simply being a follower of Jesus, we are a role model for a whole lot of broken and lost people. We pursue the healing for that thorn in the flesh (addiction, etc.), but we also don’t remain seated on the spiritual curb. He’s calling you—flaws and all—to allow Him to shine through you. Ever looked into a bright light? You see the brilliance, but not the dirt on the bulb. Let Him shine through you.
Father, I am indeed a dirty, dusty bulb. But I also love You and know that when You shine through me, others see You—rather than my dirt. Your will be done, Lord!