however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.
The standard bearer is the person who carries the
flag or the banner in to battle. He
announces the presence of the army or platoon.
His carrying the banner shows those he leads that they are strong and
ready for battle.
This person only carries the flag or banner. There is not gun or weapon. He is confident and ready for what is ahead
of Him. Yet the most important thing
that the standard bearer does is leading others.
If the standard bearer isn’t confident, there is
trouble ahead. That is why as Christians
we must be wise to choose the standards that God set and not the ones set by
any person. In fact our world is in
desperate need of standards and standard bearers. We need fathers who will stand tall and with
integrity and spiritual mature for their children and their wives. We need business owners, politicians,
servants and leaders to choose well what standards they will lift up. We need mothers and ladies who will live with
power from our God.
The standard is something we choose for
ourselves. This is often in a place or
situation that it is chosen for you, but in our world where people are easily
offended, the standards seem to be clouded and not set. We must set the standard. What do we want to become? What do we want our children to achieve?
Here is the point: there are many people that we
idolize, yet many of those are horrible, twisted people who are living selfish
lives. Our role models of the past have
given way to sports figures who make outrageous amounts of money and are
overlooked when they choose to do immoral things. Or maybe it is the singer or actor that we
have chosen to follow. They can do
almost anything and get away with it.
We need standards.
God set them for us. We need
success. God has given us roles to
perform and lives to live with confidence and passion. We have missed them. Our country, our world and our community
needs some people who have set some standards and hold to them.
Our home, community and church needs the same. Be careful.
Are we being the example God called us to be for others?
Did you know that everybody leads somebody? You might say or hear someone say I just want
to fit it or I just want to get lost in the crowd. I have heard it, but I don’t believe that is
possible. God has placed us here to make
a difference. Not all of us are called
to preach, but we are called to use our influence.
We influence our kids, our neighbors, our spouses,
our co-workers, our classmates and all kinds of people by the choices we make
and the life we live. What are we doing
with our influence? Be an example.
All of us are looking for someone to follow. Be careful for the pitfalls, the roadblocks,
the speed bumps, the traps and other things that make us go the wrong
direction. A little bit of wrong can
have a long-term impact on our lives.
This is serious stuff. Who will
we choose to follow?
Philippians 3:17 (NASB)
Brethren, join in following my example, and observe
those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.
That is a bold statement, but if we choose well who
we will follow and how we lead, we will help others find God. We need and others need the goodness and
grace of our God.
By choosing to be a standard bearer others will see
our God and come to know Him. It is our responsibility
and possibility to lead others by the standards we choose.
1
Thessalonians 1:7 NIV
And so you became a model to all the
believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
Be an example, a mentor or a model for others to see
God. Be a standard bearer!
I am grateful for Erwin McManus as he shared a
message about being a standard bearer.
This was a great place to get me thinking and ready to share this
message with our church yesterday. Thank
you Erwin and Mosaic Church in Los Angeles.
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