Imitate Paul's Lifestyle

268 - Today's Prime Time Devo comes from 2Ti 3:10, “But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, (2 Tim 3:10) Timothy not only followed the teachings of Paul very carefully, but he also followed his example of day to day living. Timothy emulated Paul's lifestyle, just as Paul emulated the lifestyle of Christ. This is more important than one might think especially as this lifestyle ought to be reflected in the spiritual leaders of today who have followed in the footsteps of Paul and Timothy. It's one of the reasons the qualifications for church leaders are so stringent as spelled out in 1 Timothy 3! But his example is for all followers of Christ! Have you not heard? We ought to live by a different moral compass than that of the world. Listen to these admonitions from scripture concerning our lifestyle: Php 4:9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, (Paul) these do, and the God of peace will be with you. Php 3:17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us (Paul and other leaders) for a pattern. 1Co 4:16 Therefore I urge you, imitate me. (Paul) 2Th 3:7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, (Paul and his fellow workers) for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. And finally, we ought to follow Paul's example because he sought to follow the example of Jesus! 1Co 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ. This is not a lifestyle without struggles between our flesh and the Holy Spirit and Paul was also very open and honest about his own personal struggles in that regard. This transparency is vital to those in and outside the church. We are to seek to be lights in this world, without shadows and hidden dark corners. If any shadow is cast in our lives, let it be the shadow of the cross, which serves as a reminder that we are sinners who struggle, yet saved in our struggles by the grace of God through faith in Jesus!