Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. (1 Timothy 4:12, ESV)
The New King James also includes “in spirit” in this list.
Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
I read the “thru the Bible” readings for today last night before bed. My heart focused here on the above verse. I am the opposite of a youth and obviously not a pastor, but personally I think the advice is good for every age bracket. It is especially good advice for pastors to be an example to the flock God has given them to shepherd, but is also important for parents and grandparents (me) who shepherd little ones and not so little ones to be a good example. Paul lists six areas where we can example the character fitting of a child of God.
The first is ”in speech”.
34 "Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."—Matthew 12:34-37
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," for we are members of one another.—Ephesians 4:25
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.—Ephesians 4:29
Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.—Ephesians 4:31
The second one is “in conduct”...righteous living
not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things.—Titus 2:10
but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct,
16 because it is written, "Be holy, for I am holy."—1 Peter 1:15
having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.—1 Peter 2:12
having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed—1 Peter 3:16
Being an example “in love“ is next...self-sacrificial service for others. Love should be both our motive and the spirit behind all that we do and say.
“This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.—John 15:12-13
“In Spirit” follows love...
The verse that came to mind here is Mark 12:30...
'And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This [is] the first commandment.
“In faith” is next and has the idea of faithfulness...believing, faithful, true, trustworthy.
Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.—1 Corinthians 4:2
The last one is purity...sinlessness...esp chastity. in thoughts as well as actions
Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, (1 Timothy 3:2, ESV)
