The Example, The Way

The Example, the Way

Dear brothers and sisters, pattern your lives after mine, and learn from those who follow our example.

Philippians 3:17

Amish communities have exploded from quiet, sleepy places to tourist attractions. While the Amish are sometimes bothered by English who (disrespectfully) want to take their photographs or speed carelessly down the roads in their cars, they do benefit from the money the English bring in. This is a conflict. The goal of the Amish is to reject all that is pleasure seeking, but that is exactly what some tourists are doing. They may be visiting the area and purchasing goods not because they need them, but merely for pleasure. The Amish, who don’t put much stock in entertainment, are becoming the entertainment. They are objects of curiosity that people travel great distances to see. They are to live separately from the world, yet they increasingly depend on the world for their income.

For the Amish, maintaining their customs in the face of tourism is not enough; they want to maintain a pure motivation for continuing those customs, a motivation aimed only at pleasing God. If they allow themselves to get too caught up in the mere practice of their religion here on earth, they will forget the Amish belief that the true purpose of this . . . life is not this life but preparation for eternal life with God. . . . And in their view, forgetting that would remove all lasting meaning from their lives.

Are there others who look up to you as an example? What is your motive in what you do? A leader, a minister, a parent, or a friend should be able to refer to his or her example and encourage others to live likewise. But the only way we can keep our motives pure is to depend on God and pray for an earnestness of our souls. And the only way we should invite others to follow our example is to make Jesus our Way.

Dear heavenly Father, I ask You to use my body and soul as instruments of righteousness for Your service, not to benefit myself but to glorify You and bless others.