Who Is Your Role Model?

hat or who is a role model? It is anyone who others look up to, and want to be like. For children, it could be their parents, a teacher, a TV personality, a rock star, a rapper, or any of a multitude of others, some desirable, some definitely undesirable, including the likes of vulgar Howard Stern, homosexual “entertainers” such as Elton John, Ellen Degenerate (oops – I mean DeGeneres), and Rosie O’Donnell, to name a few.

Many young people embrace these kinds of role models, and want to be just like them. These people for the most part are advocates of free sex, drugs, excessive alcohol use, easy marriages and divorces, and general perversion.

Why are they admired? Because they see them day after day and spend more time with them than they do with anyone wholesome – even their parents!

Well, what about us, you and me? Who do we look up to? Ultimately, of course, it should be Yahshua. He set the example. But there are others, closer to us. Paul said, for example, “Follow me as I follow the Messiah.” We have people worthy to be emulated that we can use for examples, but we must be very careful in doing so. Always compare their words and actions with Scripture. We never know what is going on within the hearts of men, even supposedly converted men.

Remember the story I put in the last newsletter about the two wolves who live inside all of us? The “good wolf” and the “bad wolf?” They fight constantly. A little boy asked his grandfather, “Who wins?” Granddad wisely answered, “The one you feed.” He was speaking of the spirit of or in man, and the Holy Spirit, which is available from Yahweh upon our repentance.

Read about the Spirit in Man, vs. the Holy Spirit in Romans 8:16 and 1 Cor. 2:9-14. If we devote our time and energy to thinking about “the world and its glitter, its temptations and temporary pleasures,” then the evil wolf will win. Satan knows our weaknesses and bombards us almost daily with temptations of every sort. And he sends his temptations in beautiful, attractive packages that cry out, “Open Me! Look Inside!”

And all too often we start looking for loopholes in Yahweh’s Word to justify our sins – to do what WE want to do.

We who are trying to live for Yahweh and Yahshua must be on guard and reject these temptations. Yahshua came and lived a perfect life that we are to pattern our own lives after. BUT - we cannot do it without Yahweh’s Holy Spirit. Yahshua should be our Role Model – our Example.

Luke 9:23-25 -  "And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. {24} For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. {25} For what is a man advantaged, if he gain the whole world, and lose himself, or be cast away?"

John 12:25-26 - (John 12:25-26 KJV)  "He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal. {26} If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honour."

John 13:15 - (John 13:15 KJV)  "For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you." (The footwashing episode to show humility)

I Cor 11:1 - (1 Cor 11:1-2 KJV)  "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of The Messiah. {2} Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you."

1 Tim 4:12 (1 Tim 4:12-14 KJV)  "Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. {13} Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine. {14} Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery."

 (Phil 2:1-5 KJV)  "If there be therefore any consolation in the Messiah, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, {2} Fulfill ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. {3} Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. {4} Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. {5} Let this mind be in you, which was also in the Messiah Yahshua:"

Phil. 3:14-17 ensample (Phil 3:14-17 NRSV)  "I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of YHWH in The Messiah Yahshua. {15} Let those of us then who are mature be of the same mind; and if you think differently about anything, this too YHWH will reveal to you. {16} Only let us hold fast to what we have attained. {17} Brothers and sisters, join in imitating me, and observe those who live according to the example you have in us."

1 Peter 2:21 – (NRSV)  "If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have Yahweh's approval. {21} For to this you have been called, because the Messiah also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps. {22} "He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth." {23} When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly."

I Pet 5:1-11 - (NRSV)  "Now as an elder myself and a witness of the sufferings of The Messiah, as well as one who shares in the glory to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you {2} to tend the flock of YHWH that is in your charge, exercising the oversight, not under compulsion but willingly, as YHWH would have you do it --not for sordid gain but eagerly. {3} Do not lord it over those in your charge, but be examples to the flock. {4} And when the chief shepherd appears, you will win the crown of glory that never fades away. {5} In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you must clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for "YHWH opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." {6} Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of YHWH, so that he may exalt you in due time."

 "Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you. {8} Discipline yourselves, keep alert. Like a roaring lion your adversary the devil prowls around, looking for someone to devour. {9} Resist him, steadfast in your faith, for you know that your brothers and sisters in all the world are undergoing the same kinds of suffering. {10} And after you have suffered for a little while, the Elohim of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in the Messiah, will himself restore, support, strengthen, and establish you. {11} To him be the power forever and ever. Amein." ~