Contemplative Bible Reading

Titus 2:7a (New International Version)

7 In everything set them an example by doing what is good.

Model the bahavior that you want others to live.

I have heard that increasingly in the past couple of years. If I want people to listen, I slow down, shut up, and listen myself. If I want people to understand me before making their point, I need to understand their view first before pressing my own.

The verse from Titus echoes this idea. Be an example, be a model of doing what is good. Let others see that behavior.

Will other people follow my model? Often they will not, sometimes they will. How often? What are the percentages? What is the return on investment?

These are good questions. Are they the right questions? Does Paul encourage us to ask these questions? I don’t think so. I believe Paul is encouraging us to do what is right. What others will do is between them and God. What I do is between me and God. As for me, I will try to do what is right.