“Take heed to thyself, and to thy teaching. Continue in these things; for in doing this thou shalt save both thyself and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16).

We are to be careful in our life by our conduct, and be faithful in life (1 Corinthians 4:2; Revelation 2:10). We are to live life in such away that Christ can be magnified in our bodies (Philippians 1:20). If you ask someone, “what do you do to a thing when you magnify it?” The unthinking answer is, “you make it larger.” But magnifying glass doesn’t make the print larger! It just improves your vision so that you see it more clearly and distinctly. The print still remains the same size but it appears to be larger. Now, in this same respect, Christ should be magnified in our bodies and lives, “for I bear branded on my body the marks of Jesus” (Galatians 6:17). The world would see Christ more clearly and distinctly. We as Christians would be Christ’s magnifying glass for the whole world. “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me: and that (life) which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, (the faith) which is in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself up for me” (Galatians 2:20).

We are to live in such a way that we draw people to Christ by being examples of believers. Followers of the Lord are imitators, “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1). Be imitators of God (Ephesians 5:1). Followers of the Lord are imitators, not mere talkers! The Lord left His people and example “that ye should follow in His steps” (1 Peter 2:21). We are to be careful in our conduct.

The word example comes from a Greek word which literally means an underwriting. The word was used to describe the practice of writing at the top of a page so children learning to write could write under the copy so as to imitate that which was written. Thus, figuratively, it means a copy or pattern for imitation. Christ’s life, then, is a pattern for us to imitate. The life Christ lived is not just to be admired, talked about, or sung about, but is to be followed. “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 John 2:6). We are to live in such a way that we draw people to Christ by our example. “Faithful is the saying, and concerning these things I desire that thou affirm confidently, to the end that they who have believed God may be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men” (Titus 3:8). “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit” (2 Corinthians 3:18). We are to become more and more like Christ, and the world would see Christ living and walking in our lives. The world is to see Christ revealed in His followers.

The light of Christ is to be reflected by Christians into all the world, that all may see the good works accomplished, and be led to glorify God (Matthew 5: 16). This is what is meant to magnify Christ. “Ye are our epistle, written in our hearts, known and read of all men; being made manifest that ye are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in tables (that are) hearts of flesh” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3). Christians are the epistles which the world reads before being introduced to those within the Bible. The world will listen to a godly life.

Brethren, if we are not faithful how are we going to save ourselves, let alone others? We must be faithful! “Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: He that walketh in a perfect way, he shall minister unto me” (Psalm 101:6). This is the only way we can be saved by being faithful to God’s word. In doing this we will save others who hear us or by the life we live: people seeing Christ in us. The Christian teaches with his life. There is no greater need in this entire world than for those who are members of the Lord’s spiritual body to really live the genuine Christian life. In a world that is steeped in ignorance and darkness and sin, oh, what we need is a glow of light from a Christian who is living his life right before God. “Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). Certainly these passages should cause each one of us to think of his individual life; what kind of example am I living before those whom I see every day.

I appeal to you to really live a genuine Christian life, be a good example for all to follow, “for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Timothy 4:16).