Discipleship | a 5-Day Skate Church Movement Devotionalنموونە

setting an example

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2

When you make the decision to follow Christ, your life will naturally start to change in a good way. Just like when you decided to skateboard, you spent time taking in what skateboarding is all about. You do this so you can understand it for yourself and transform into a skateboarder.

For someone who has made the choice to be a follower of Christ, the transformation often starts with the words we speak. Our new guide–the Holy Spirit living inside of us–will begin to challenge us about what we say and when we should say it. It might be foul language, lying, or words spoken out of anger. When we speak or act in a way that might be against what God would want for His children, He challenges us to live as He would want. Romans 12:2 says it perfectly: “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”

When I was 12, I made the choice to start skateboarding. When I finally got a skateboard, my desire to skate only grew. I ended up changing the way I talked as I began to learn what different tricks were called. My desire to progress led to staying up late every night to skateboard. My actions made each of these choices a reality because of who I wanted to become. If I didn’t make these steps, there is no way I could’ve become a true skateboarder.

It takes time to figure out what God would want and how to love others the way He would. It starts with a daily decision to turn our focus to God, who will start to transform us into that good, pleasing, and perfect person in His eyes. Day by day, as we allow God to transform our minds towards what He wants, our heart's desires will naturally change.

Now, as a follower of Jesus, you will start to walk and talk differently and people will see that change occur in your life. As you live in God’s leading each day, you will naturally start to set a better example to others because you will look more like Christ.

Paul, a devoted follower of Christ, challenges the Philippians to put everything he has shown them into practice because of his confidence in his relationship with the Lord. He took everything Jesus said and did and applied it to his own life. He showed us it was possible to live our lives completely for Christ, and how good it is to do so. The only way to make it happen means that you need to open your Bible and follow those leading you closer to Christ, so that you may lead others to Him with you.

pushing further

1. Who is someone you look up to as a good example of a Christ follower and what makes them a good example?
2. If people followed the example you set at the skatepark, what would they look like?