Page 13 - Have Faith Oct_Neat

Day 12 imitate me, just as I imitate Christ...

Role Model, Soul Model... 1 Timothy 1: 12-17
Do you have someone that you look up to the same belief, he was even a witness to the
and strive to be like? I expect most of us do, stoning of one of the disciples, Stephen. He
parents, siblings, world leaders, inspirational really wasn't a very nice man. But if you read
figures, sports stars, pop stars, the list goes Acts in the New Testament, you will see how
on. For me, growing up, it was always my he was spoken to by the Lord and turned
dad. This indestructible, strong, military like from his old life to becoming one of the apos-
man that commanded respect in our house- tles. Indeed, he was imprisoned and be-
hold. He served in the Royal Hampshire Reg- headed for his teachings of Christ. But how
iment during the 60's, the same regiment I is it a man can go from so much hate towards
was to join some 20 years later. Yep, he was his brother, commit horrendous atrocities,
my role model, I wanted to be just like him. commit so many bad sins to eventually be-
As I grew and got older I came to respect coming the most spoken about Saint in his-
many people in life. I especially respected tory? The answer is simple. Through the
people like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther forgiveness, grace and love of God. Is it pos-
King, and so many others that stood up for sible that people in our day and age could do
what they believed in and would never give the same? Could someone who has spent
in to persecution or oppression. But me, I years in prison for terrible crimes become a
could never be like these super humans. person of inspiration and looked up to as
They had qualities that I could only dream of. someone that is good and decent? It is sad
I didn't have what these people had, I cer- that humanity doesn't forgive as readily as
tainly wasn't as good as them and I certainly God. People like this do exist. Maybe they
didn't live the kind of lives that they did. I can are just harder to recognise, I don't know. But
see the big mistake in my thinking as I write to me St Paul went from spiritual rags to
this. By looking up to these people I put my- riches. Now that is a good role model. But I
self below them and convinced myself that I also have a soul model too. That is someone
could never be good enough. But looking I wish to base my own soul and spirit on.
back at these thoughts I have to ask myself Someone who's actions, love and goodness
how could I be the best I possibly could if my inspires me to follow him, but to do this I need
mind is already telling me I'm already de- to train my soul to be like him, to do the things
feated? These days, I still do have a role he did, to love the way he did and to forgive
model but I also have a soul model too. My the way he did. Only one fits the bill in my
role model is St Paul. People may think of this eyes, Jesus. By having Jesus as our soul
as a little strange but to me, he is the perfect model we will not go far wrong as Christians.
example of what can be achieved. Imagine a After all, being a Christian means we are
man who hated Christians so much he would striving to be Christ-like, a very difficult but not
have them thrown into prison just for believ- impossible task. We will never be as good as
ing in Jesus. He would have them stoned for him but in this case, it doesn't hurt to try.

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