A Godly Example

A Godly Example

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

Philippians 1:3-6

In the weeks that followed, Paula was astonished at the couple’s patience with each other, with their staff, and with her. If bad weather or detours caused them to arrive at the next event too late for a proper practice session, they talked over the program on the bus. If their driver missed an exit in rush-hour traffic, they made an effort to calm his frustration. If they were tired or grouchy, they chose to sit apart quietly for a time instead of throwing barbed comments at each other.

One of the biggest surprises for Paula, though, was learning that Beatrice was a homebody who dreaded travel. But because she shared her struggle between her longing for the comforts of home and her desire to serve the Lord alongside her husband, she quietly passed on her personal strength to Paula. And along the way, she set a godly example for others facing their own challenges in ministry.

Today, Paula credits her experience on that tour with starting her own singing ministry: “I started that summer afraid I’d be disappointed. But as I became less preoccupied with pedestals and more concerned with spiritual growth, I learned the lessons the Lord had for me.”

And that made all the difference. —SANDRA

Lord, help me to be less interested in so-called heroes and more interested in your personal calling for my life. Give me strength for my personal journey. Help me to discard my tendency to envy others. And along the way, may I encourage my fellow travelers.

What happens when God grants the gift of genuine Christian fellowship? Deep, joyful sharing replaces the polite prattle typically exchanged by Christians on Sunday morning. Sisters and brothers begin to discuss the things that really matter to them. They disclose their inner fears, their areas of particular temptation, their deepest joys. —RONALD J. SIDER, THEOLOGIAN AND CHRISTIAN ACTIVIST