My Examples

Romans 12: 1-2 (KJV):

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

Of late I have been doing lots of reflecting on the word of God. After Conference I felt like I had reached a new level in my relationship with God. It is a stronger relationship but also one where God exposes me to more knowledge and revelation that He knows I can now handle.

One aspect of this relationship has been to understand how beautiful God has been to me by surrounding me with so many examples of what it means to be Christian. People who show me what it is to really know God. No, to really, really know God. To be a close friend of His. To love Him. And I do love Him. I have loved Him since I was born again. I see many though who have loved Him for far longer than I, who have had far more thrown at them in life than I. And these people are my examples of what it means to be a Christian in the world of 2009.

Names are not important. Many are my friends, the sort of friends Heather wrote about on her post, but some I just know. After all Jesus did not choose his Disciples based solely on their names or how well he knew them, but who they were as people. For example, my namesake, Andrew, is rarely discussed in the Bible but yet he was one of the 12 Disciples. But isn’t that how it should be? Shouldn’t we be quiet achievers? And after all aren’t we all His Disciples? Shouldn’t we be?

I know that my examples are quiet about their achievements, as was Jesus about His. You wouldn’t know by talking to many of them about the Everest’s they have faced and conquered but to me their stories are inspirational not only because of who they are but also because their lives are a testimony and witness of the glory and grace of who they love: Jesus. Wow, you can just look at some of my examples and see how much Jesus loves them and how much they love Jesus.

Some of my examples bless me by reading my posts. Yes they bless me for I know that for many their time is precious. Very precious. Some share with me their love of God, and this is done both in action and word, sometimes it is one, sometimes both. And when I see this happen I also see the power, majesty and beauty that is God. God knows my mind and my thoughts so he doesn’t need to read my posts to know what I have written.

I also know from my examples that they never ever take anything for granted in life for they know that none of us are guaranteed anything in life other than what God gives us every day. We can pray and ask God for blessings or healing, but we must also be patient. We must surrender our lives to Him, make ourselves available to Him. Even when the Devil whispers in our ears that God has forsaken us, left us and ignores our prayers we must be faithful because God has never ever stopped loving us.

I know all of this because my examples have been through testing and trying times and emerged with their faith and love for God even stronger than what it was before. They are transformed by God and their minds are renewed and strengthened by God.

I didn’t want this to be a long blog post. Just one where I could thank God for putting so many wonderful people in my life who are my examples I can look to as I start my walk with God. At times I feel like I should be in Sunday School. But 20-30 years from now I know I will feel exactly the same because my examples have also shown me that you never ever stop learning from God. Ever.

The scripture at the top really spoke to me when I first read it a few nights ago. It just lept out at me. That has been happening a lot of late. Danielle wrote about a similar feeling in one of her posts. A few pieces of scripture have been reinforced and repeated. I know from my examples that when this happens that God is speaking to me. His living word is reaching out to me. And that’s why I know from my examples why reading His word is just so important.

So I will end my post here. I could write lots, lots more. For my examples are my inspirations. But I know that their own best example and inspiration is also the one I turn to everyday for an example and inspiration: Jesus.

God Bless.