A preacher was walking by a house and heard someone inside using extremely foul language. About that time, a young boy came outside. The preacher stopped him and asked, “Who was that using such terrible language in your house?” The youngster said, “Oh that was Dad. He couldn’t find his Bible.” Far too often the actions of Christians on Monday through Saturday tell a different story than their actions on Sunday. I have often wondered how many of us have lost sight of our responsibility to display the proper example of holiness every day of the week. Consider these passages:

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). In the verses leading up to this one Jesus told his listeners that they were to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Followers of Christ have the responsibility, through their examples, to show the rest of the world what it means to be one of God’s children. Our conduct should light the way to Christ, not drive people from him.

“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity” (1 Tim. 4:12). Here Paul instructed the young preacher that he was to let the people he regularly contacted see through his speech and conduct that he was a believer and follower of Christ. We should offer no one the opportunity to level and sustain the charge against us that we do no act like Christians.

“Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear” (1 Pet. 3:1-2). Peter affirms the great power that lies in the Christian example when he stated that Christian wives can win their unbelieving husbands to Christ through their proper conduct.

1 Peter 2:21 says that Christ left us an example that we should follow in his steps. We should never act in any way that conflicts with what we know about the life, teachings and example of Jesus. The old saying, “actions speak louder than words,” is true in many cases. While it is good that we preach the necessity of being a good example, such preaching is easily negated when the world looks at us and sees that our actions don’t match our words. When we send that kind of conflicting message, people won’t pay much attention to what we say, even if what we say is right. No matter where we are or what we are doing, God expects us to conduct ourselves in a manner that is worthy of the gospel (Phil. 1:27).

Eddie Parrish