Philippians 3:17
“Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us.”
Gerry Bradley, Barbara Holt and Ron Kennedy; these names are important to me but unknown to you. Gerry Bradley was our family dentist and church youth group leader. Barbara Holt was my French, Latin, Home Room, and Sunday School teacher for several years. Ron Kennedy had Cystic Fibrosis, lived in a wheelchair, and was a leader and mentor to me at the church camp I attended in my childhood and teens.
Apart from my parents, these three (and a few others) helped me to understand what being a Christian looks like. They set an example for me (and others) to follow. They did it on purpose, but also simply by being faithful followers of Jesus in their daily lives. All three taught me, sometimes with words, but mostly with actions, and it is their actions - the way they lived - that I remember more than 40 years later.
This is how Jesus taught, by example as well as by words. This is how Paul taught, by example as well as by words. And, when his proteges lost their way, Paul reminded them of the example he set for them and encouraged them to look at his actions and remember the way of life he taught them.
Christianity is not a set of beliefs or doctrines; Christianity is a way of life. Christianity is not taught so much as caught. Thank you, Gerry, Barbara and Ron for your contagious faith.
Blessings,
David
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