Other Modern-Day Examples

Over the past few decades, countless others have shown themselves to be good example.  What of the thousands of self-sacrificing missionaries who have "left houses or brothers or sisters or fathers or mother or children or lands" to fulfill the Christian commission, too, the traveling overseers and their wives, the men and women who serve as volunteers at the offices of the Watchtower Society, and the pioneers who minister to the congregations.  Can such examples motivate others?  One Christian evangelizer in Asia recalls a missionary from the eighth class of the Watchtower Bible School of Gilead. He said that this faithful brother was "willing to face the swarms of mosquitoes and the oppressive humidity. . .More impressive still was his ability to make presentations in both the Chinese and Mala languages though he was from England."   The effect of this fine example?  The brother said:  "His calmness and confidence inspired me to want to become a missionary when I grew up." Not surprisingly, this brother did become a missionary.

The Watchtower Publication Index contains a list of dozens of life stories that have appeared in the Watchtower and Awake!  magazines.  These stories tell of individuals who have forsaken worldly careers and goals, overcome weaknesses, made dramatic personality transformations, maintained a positive disposition in the face of adversity, and displayed industriousness, endurance,loyalty, humility, and a self-sacrificing spirit.  One reader wrote regarding these accounts:  "They make me a more humble and thankful Christian as I read what others have gone through, and they have helped me not to think too much of myself or be selfish." 
In addition, do not forget the fine examples in your own congregation: family heads who unfailingly care for both the material and spiritual needs of their families, sisters -including single mothers-who handle the pressures of child-rearing while still having an act9ive share in the ministry; aged and infirm ones who continue faithful in spite of increasing frailty and i9mpaired health. Are you not moved by such examples?

Granted, the world is full of bad examples.  (2 Timothy 3:13) Nevertheless,m consider Paul's exhortation to Christians living in Judea.  After recounting the exemplary behavior of many ancient men and women of faith, the apostle Paul urged them:  "So, then, because we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let  us also . . .run with endurance the race that is set before us, as we look intently at the Chief Agent and Perfecter of our faith, Jesus." (Hebrews 12:1, 2) Christians today are also surrounded by a 'great cloud' of good examples-both ancient and modern-day. Are you truly benefiting from them? You can if you are determined to be "an imitator not of what is bad, but of what is good." -3 John 11.

Next time: CHRISTIAN SHEPHERDS, Open Wide Your Heart'!

The Watchtower, 2000