TRUE MODELLING

True modelling isn't only about positioning yourself as a certain kind of individual people would want to emulate. It is presenting yourself in a way that's not just pleasing to yourself or others but to your Maker (God).

Do you know that true modelling is a selfless act? For example, you tell yourself, "I want to be a role model for others to emulate or I am a role model; people look up to me". And then you think it is always about you? No, dear.

True modelling is never selfish because you have to let go your personal desires you crave for which depicts or promotes wrong living (unhealthy habits, wrong lifestyle, etc) and put on the acceptable way of living irrespective of how difficult it may seem as a human. Just because you enjoy talking especially against other people doesn't make it right. That's gossip and nobody loves a gossiper. So, you'll have to flip that attitude off the window.

My point is, you have to drop every bad life in other to live like a true christian model worth emulating. So, it is a selfless act.

You therefore, adopt true modelling by imitating the faultless and perfect being – Christ Jesus. You have to loose sight of yourself (what you think is right) and others (what people tells you is right or the standard) in other to display the true modelling.

Definitely, your self as a human would always want to react to anger, it is prideful and egocentric. It always delights in things that soothes and pleases him. It wants to remain in enmity with a perceived enemy, keep malice, backbite, gossip and all other detestable acts.

It takes a selfless man to deny himself pleasures and what would satisfy him to build and lead others. Apostle Paul denied himself meat. He stopped eating meat not because it is sinful but because he wanted to be a true model to the "weaker" Christians who had problem with their conscience not standing the result of eating meat. (See 1 Corinthians 8:1-13)

In his words, he said, "therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall". (1 Corinthians 8:13 NIV)

That's true modelling. He was totally selfless.

Another scripture to prove this is 1 Corinthians 10:33 and 1 Corinthians 11:1.

1 Corinthians 10:33 says, same Paul speaking, "just as I also please all men in all things, NOT SEEKING MY OWN PROFIT BUT THE PROFIT OF MANY, THAT THEY MAY BE SAVED".

See how this scripture concurred with the other one about the selflessness of apostle Paul.

And to show that 1 Corinthians 10:33 is a continuation of 1 Corinthians 11:1 despite how scripture was divided into chapters and verses, chapter 11 reads, same Paul speaking, " IMITATE ME, JUST AS I ALSO IMITATE CHRIST". Wow!

He boldly and proudly asked others to imitate him because he imitated the faultless and perfect being – Christ. Christ was without a glimpse of selfishness in him and Paul demonstrated this unto believers just for their well being. "...that they may be saved".

His mouth wasn't just representing Christ, his lifestyle did too. That's true modelling.

Though apostle Paul presented himself for others to emulate, he still promoted Christ, putting Him in front. Paul was literally saying, "Jesus is the one you should imitate but since He's no longer in the earth but I am his representative here and I can as well vouch I follow Him faithfully, just imitate me. Wow!

Now, this reveals our responsibility as Christians – true modelling.

It is not okay to confess Christ with your lips and end everything in too much talking. Your life should speak volume than your lips.

The world isn't seeing Jesus now, they are seeing YOU. You say you represent Jesus but you take bribes, tell lies, cheat others, fornicate, keep malice, burn with anger, intolerable, deceitful, envious, etc. That's not true modelling, that's self modelling.

You're just a model for the devil to sample and sell off his filthy products for others to sink deeper into sin.

The world should see the light of God through us as Christians. They should see purity, holiness and the entirety of God's attributes in us. Besides, we are His children and a child is meant to mimic his father and carry much resemblance of his father.

Dear Christian, you are called God's ambassador not to portray the opposite of the life you were called for. We were called for good works. (Ephesians 2:10).

Ephesians 5:1-2 teaches another beautiful truth about true modelling. "Therefore, be imitators of God as dear children, and walk in love as Christ also loved us and gave Himself for us..." NKJV.

God is love and the above mentioned scripture says "imitate Him". It says walk in love AS CHRIST ALSO LOVED US. In other words, imitate Christ and His kind of love. 

Love as scripture says covers a multitude of sin. That's why love is the ultimate command.

A man of love cannot devise or work evil against his fellow human. And only your genuine love for Christ can stimulate in you a panting to please Him in character, deeds and speech.

See, true modelling is more than knowing how to dress (a fashionista), observing some etiquettes, being a guru at what you do. It is simply showing others the light; how to live right and love right, not with the lips but in demonstration by the influence of Christ in you.

Christ must first influence you before you can successfully influence another positively. Get rid of the negative habits and lifestyles you walk in and embrace Christ if you want men to look up to you.

Let your day to day living be like him in everything – your thoughts, speech, deeds and lifestyle.

Spend time with him studying and praying. His attributes develops in you and rubs off on you just as a friend influences his friend.

And you on the imitating end, ensure the person you're looking up to as a role model possesses the qualities of a true role model. He should be selfless, full of love for God and men and has commendable character traits as he follows Christ.

Finally, while looking up to humans, don't forget they are humans. Humans can fail, humans can change. It is only the Almighty God that can't fail nor change. Hence, keep Christ as your overall role model. Man is there to show the example but Christ is the standard. Everything, including your role models should still point to the ultimate – Christ.

This will save you the risk of being disappointed, weakened or crumble altogether when someone you look up to fails and walks into error (though no one prays for that).

May we receive grace to model the Christ kind of living in Jesus' Name.

PS: To learn deeper things on true modelling, leadership and leading a life worth emulating, look out for an eBook coming your way that highlights on these subject matters which will help you fully maximise your stay on earth displaying the life worth emulating anywhere you're found.

If you are not born again, you have to repent of your sins and consciously confess Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You cannot represent who you don't know. This is your chance to be part of the models Christ has on earth.

Just say this prayer of salvation: Lord Jesus, come into my heart. I receive you today as my Lord and Saviour. Forgive me of all my sins as I repent today. I receive Your Spirit and grace over my life.

Thank You Lord for saving me. In Jesus' Name.

If you made that prayer consciously, Congratulations. You are now born again.

Now, live your life righteously and purposefully. 

You can also send me a message or share your experience via my social media handle.

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Email@ favourcc0@gmail.com

God bless you.