I believe we all have had a role model at one time or another. Someone we admired and wanted to be more like. The reasons are infinite. Donald Trump could be a role model for some if monetary gain is their desire. Amelia Earhart could be a role model for those who want to set new records and fly high in the skies. Walter Payton could be a role model for those with athletic ability and warm and giving hearts. Jimmy Johnson could be a role model for those who want to drive race cars. Kevin Van Dam could be a role model for those who want to be a professional bass fisherman. Billy Graham could be a role model for those who want to be a dynamic preacher and lead many to Christ.
I think you get the picture. Mankind tends to pick a person in their field of interest and then idolize them. But, there is a glitch. All mankind is flawed and therefore any role model you choose is flawed. No race driver has won every race. No baseball player has batted 1000. No fisherman has won every tournament. Even if they are the best in their field of expertise, they are not perfect. The race car driver loses; their fans are disappointed. The baseball player strikes out; his fans are disappointed. A fisherman loses a 9 pound bass at the boat; his fans are disappointed. All role models experience failure in their field of expertise. No one’s career is perfect. Again, I think you get the picture.
Charles Barkley played in the NBA and was great at creating humorous quotes. One quote of his is: "I’m no role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids." Charles was being truthful. His athletic abilities on the court are well known however he didn’t want to be a role model. Why? I don’t know but it doesn’t matter. Charles Barkley knows and that is sufficient for me. I appreciate his honesty. It seems these days every time we read a magazine or listen to the radio, some one that many looked up to has fallen. Infidelity, embezzlement, theft, insider trading, perjury, drugs; the list goes on. We are often shocked by their actions but we realize they are human, too. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
Role models eventually disappoint those who idolize them. I believe we should observe people in the profession we are interested in so we can improve our skills and knowledge. I listen to Praise and Worship leaders and watch how they keep a worship service flowing smoothly. I learn from them and respect their abilities. However, to idolize anyone of them would eventually disappoint. Regardless of who we look up to they will let us down. But there is one who never disappoints, who has never sinned, and His name is Yeshua. Yeshua is the Aramaic Greek and Hebrew name for Jesus. Yeshua is one we all should emulate. He was sinless. He was kind. He was generous. He was no respecter of persons. He fed the masses. He healed people. He cast out demons. He turned water to wine to save a marriage feast. He raised the dead. He ministered to people the religious leaders would not get close to. He was truthful. He was strong. He obeyed God. He prevented an adulterous woman from being stoned. He fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies. He gave His life for His friends. He had a persona that drew people to Him; especially children. He stood for equality among people in a time when that was unheard of. He gave His life for those yet to be born. He gave His life for His enemies. He sympathizes because He experienced human pain and suffering. He encourages as we face temptation because He did as well. That is Yeshua!
Yeshua is the One. He is the perfect definition of a role model; perfect in all respects, never disappoints, and to the point of giving His life for all. Yeshua is my role model. Is He yours? Can I be sinless like Him? No I cannot. Can I sin less by Him being my role model? Yes, I can. Yeshua freed me from my sins! Yeshua paid the ransom for me and for you. That is Yeshua! Emulating Yeshua is not enough though. You have to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. When you accept Him into your life, you want to be more like Him every day and in every way. He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life! That is Yeshua!
Papa Joe Mac's Commentary:
I believe we all have had a role model at one time or another. Someone we admired and wanted to be more like. The reasons are infinite. Donald Trump could be a role model for some if monetary gain is their desire. Amelia Earhart could be a role model for those who want to set new records and fly high in the skies. Walter Payton could be a role model for those with athletic ability and warm and giving hearts. Jimmy Johnson could be a role model for those who want to drive race cars. Kevin Van Dam could be a role model for those who want to be a professional bass fisherman. Billy Graham could be a role model for those who want to be a dynamic preacher and lead many to Christ.
I think you get the picture. Mankind tends to pick a person in their field of interest and then idolize them. But, there is a glitch. All mankind is flawed and therefore any role model you choose is flawed. No race driver has won every race. No baseball player has batted 1000. No fisherman has won every tournament. Even if they are the best in their field of expertise, they are not perfect. The race car driver loses; their fans are disappointed. The baseball player strikes out; his fans are disappointed. A fisherman loses a 9 pound bass at the boat; his fans are disappointed. All role models experience failure in their field of expertise. No one’s career is perfect. Again, I think you get the picture.
Charles Barkley played in the NBA and was great at creating humorous quotes. One quote of his is: "I’m no role model. Just because I dunk a basketball doesn’t mean I should raise your kids." Charles was being truthful. His athletic abilities on the court are well known however he didn’t want to be a role model. Why? I don’t know but it doesn’t matter. Charles Barkley knows and that is sufficient for me. I appreciate his honesty. It seems these days every time we read a magazine or listen to the radio, some one that many looked up to has fallen. Infidelity, embezzlement, theft, insider trading, perjury, drugs; the list goes on. We are often shocked by their actions but we realize they are human, too. All have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God.
Role models eventually disappoint those who idolize them. I believe we should observe people in the profession we are interested in so we can improve our skills and knowledge. I listen to Praise and Worship leaders and watch how they keep a worship service flowing smoothly. I learn from them and respect their abilities. However, to idolize anyone of them would eventually disappoint. Regardless of who we look up to they will let us down. But there is one who never disappoints, who has never sinned, and His name is Yeshua. Yeshua is the Aramaic Greek and Hebrew name for Jesus. Yeshua is one we all should emulate. He was sinless. He was kind. He was generous. He was no respecter of persons. He fed the masses. He healed people. He cast out demons. He turned water to wine to save a marriage feast. He raised the dead. He ministered to people the religious leaders would not get close to. He was truthful. He was strong. He obeyed God. He prevented an adulterous woman from being stoned. He fulfilled all Old Testament prophecies. He gave His life for His friends. He had a persona that drew people to Him; especially children. He stood for equality among people in a time when that was unheard of. He gave His life for those yet to be born. He gave His life for His enemies. He sympathizes because He experienced human pain and suffering. He encourages as we face temptation because He did as well. That is Yeshua!
Yeshua is the One. He is the perfect definition of a role model; perfect in all respects, never disappoints, and to the point of giving His life for all. Yeshua is my role model. Is He yours? Can I be sinless like Him? No I cannot. Can I sin less by Him being my role model? Yes, I can. Yeshua freed me from my sins! Yeshua paid the ransom for me and for you. That is Yeshua! Emulating Yeshua is not enough though. You have to accept Him as your Lord and Savior. When you accept Him into your life, you want to be more like Him every day and in every way. He will forgive your sins and give you eternal life! That is Yeshua!