In all things you yourself must be an example of good behavior.  Be sincere and serious in your teaching. Titus 2:7

Recurrent Thought

Our Lives are impacted, challenged and influenced by other people’s Lives. Therefore, it is essential to be aware and intentional of what type of People influences Your Life

One significant way of teaching human behavior is by setting an example of a person whose behavior is either copied or rejected. Human Examples as a tool of behavior teaching is the ability to bring out the best in others as they observe the best out of an example. In teaching, especially in mentoring and coaching the people we admire have a powerful influence on us. Albert Schweitzer a, missionary and author stated that “Example is not the main thing in influencing others, it is the only thing.” There is a saying that a Picture is worth a thousand words. We dare state that a well-chosen example or experience is worth much more. Let us unpack the wisdom of examples in three thoughts from Paul’s Statement:

A Social Media Influencer is a person who has the power to affect others' purchasing decisions because of their authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with their audience

1. Understand the Power of Examples (Models)

   • Life Examples are Powerful Molds of Life: They create Patterns
   • Life Examples are more potent than precept: Great lessons of life are better caught by observation than taught
   • Good Life Examples when properly followed, stimulate others to higher and better living. We are therefore to imitate good men in the graces for which they are most distinguished (Num.12:3; 1Sam. 2:18; Job 1:21; Act5:41).
   • The lives of many saints are expressly recorded for our imitation.(James5:10-11; 17; Php. 4:9.). Hebrews 11 is a Powerful lesson on Imitation
   • Human beings are naturally imitative. If we do not follow good examples we go after the bad. Absolute originality is almost impossible. Imitation is largely unconscious. But it is profitable for us to make use of this powerful instinct by turning it towards the best models. The family is the first community of examples that shape us f. Personal and Organizational Life is better perceived and carried out through Models or Examples. When one particular life or approach is followed with consistence, it becomes a model.
   • Organizational Models are great for they make life organized, predictable and manageable.However, models can also limit our vision. Therefore, once in a while you must question every model based on its effectiveness. 
   • Be deliberate and discriminate to gain from Imitation: Ensure good models are chosen.  Similarity of circumstances usually help to find who to imitate. We can select an example front among men who have similar duties and temptations to our own. Our fellow-men have all to fight the same battle with sin.
   • Special characteristics. In particular circumstances certain men become the best examples. Hence one use of biography, knowledge of mankind, etc.
   • Christian Example has boundaries: We follow through the greater example of Christ ("Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (1. Corinthians 11:1).
   • Morality of a Model also sets the limits of what we can imitate. We are not to imitate actions of men as are to be condemned or whose life is contrary to our life values (Gen. 19:8; 42:15-16; 27:25-27).
2. Great Examples are Admirable: Pursue them (Psa. 1:1; Pro. 2:20; Php. 3: 17)
   “Mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample” (Php. 3:17). 
   • Observe Great Examples: We cannot imitate what we do not see and know. Therefore, it is essential for us to carefully watch and meditate on the conduct of great lives  
   • Mark great Life Examples and make it Your Life pattern.  Imitate the Live Examples of Faith (Heb. 11). Let their Lives rub on you. Have an embodiment of earnest faith, walking on the same platform with them, and speaking, acting, praying, suffering, and weeping among them. 
   • The Power of Life Examples is in their essence of being reachable: What has been possible to others is surely not impossible to You”  
   • Recognize that You too become a Model “Brethren, be followers together of me” (Php. 3:17).
3. Bad Examples are Contagious: Run away from Them (Pro. 4:14-16; Php. 3:18)
   • If your values are not clear, you will pursue and be attracted to examples with bad and questionable values.
   • A Bad Model is an enemy of truth.—“Many walk, of whom I have told you, … they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Php_3:18). 
   • A Bad Model shifts you from pursuing Christ. Be careful of friends who are enemies of Christ, despite their glamorous their lives. Be careful of friends who are the enemies of the Cross on represented by His cross.  Be careful of examples of people who profess to maintain the doctrines of the cross, yet by their wicked lives deny its power it. 
   • A Bad Model is one who concentrate their chief thought on the material Pursuits. “Who mind earthly things” (Php_3:19). Know for a fact that the world has many attractions, but it has also many dangers. If you make pursuing its material things as your chief goal, know for sure that you will wean yourself, you will cut yourself (soul) from God, his holiness and heaven. 
   • A Bad Model is one who are supremely controlled by their sensual appetites.  “Whose God is their belly” (Php_3:19). The desires of the flesh invite to self-indulgence in all areas possible:  gluttony, revelling, drunkenness; extravagance, and immodesty of dress; to impurity of speech and conduct. 
   • A Bad Model include those who gloat in their degradation.—“Whose glory is in their shame” (Php. 3:19). Notice that human beings have reached the lowest depth of morality when they boast that they are not ashamed to do sin. Enemies of the Cross justify their sin without shame

But We are Different! (3:20-21)

• We are different in our pursuits
• We are citizens of heaven 
• We are await a Savior

Application to the Life of Ambition

1. Your life of Vision is always impacted by examples in your vocation
2. Don’t Let your ambitions be tainted by the pursuit of which is sensual and materialistic

Conclusion

• The people you admire impacts You, therefore choose wisely
• There are many people that admire you, be a wonderful example