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The Value of a Christian's Example
Consider the implication of I Peter 3: 1-6, “Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.”
We all know friends or family members who are not Christians, but who ultimately you know what they need to do to become one. It may be hard (or even frustrating) to see these individuals attend worship Sunday after Sunday without ever being baptized. One thing we can do to help motivate those individuals is talk to them. The word of God was proclaimed verbally to all the nations in the New Testament, so speaking about salvation today is absolutely appropriate and necessary. However, we cannot overlook the value of our examples when it comes to converting non-Christians. Just like an unbelieving spouse, the example we set for our non-Christians. Just like an unbelieving spouse, the example we set for our non-Christian friends and family is paramount. Unspoken activity can be far more powerful than simply speaking. It is better to “act it out,” rather than: "speak it out” without backing up your words. We need to live out what we say to others so non-Christians see how we treat others, view the world, and serve God in our day-to-day lives and not just at church.
