Hebrews 13:7 “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God.  Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”   Workers look to their leaders for direction, athletes look to their coaches for instruction and training and children look to their fathers and mothers for examples and principles on how to live.  This principle is both normal and natural and is lived out before us every day.  It is essential for success in every sense of the word, particularly for the Christian life.  Men must work hard at their leadership abilities by building their personal spiritual formations and godly wisdom.  This will provide the most important leadership foundation for them to lead by example.  Followers will follow the leadership example set before them; whether good or bad.

In the home, your children are watching you all the time and will try to do what you do.  Several years ago, our youngest granddaughter of only three-years of age went missing.  We searched everywhere to find her and finally found her in the front seat of her family car.  She had the car keys in her hand trying to insert them into the ignition.  (Take the car keys out and don’t leave them on the console.) Fortunately, she did not have the hand strength to insert them or turn on the ignition.  How did she know to do this?  She had witnessed the example of her parents starting the car.  This is but one example of seeing how children follow the example of their parents.  The same holds true of our actions before them in prayer, Bible study, personal interactions, marriage and other behaviors.  The real question is not whether they will follow our example. They will.  It is this: “When we see them doing what we do, will we like what we see?”  Our verse this week has a penetrating message that we must personally take to heart, “Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith.”