Nothing quite works like an example.  If you want me to do something, show me how. 

It certainly works with technology.  If you do it for me, I can’t learn.  If you tell me how, I can’t learn.   If you show me, walk me through it, or demonstrate it, I most likely can learn to do it for myself.

It works with attitudes and behaviors as well.  When we see good examples, we learn from them.  When we are told what to do without the example, it usually doesn’t work.   Martha and I grew up in a small town where you knew everybody and everybody knew you.  Though we were in different grades, we had the same teachers and the same subjects.  Several of our teachers made profound impacts on us.  One taught history and had grown up in the home of university professors.  One of her interesting attributes was impeccable English, but we came to know that she didn’t know any English rules.  She simply knew English. 

She explained it something like this:  “I grew up in a home in which proper English was spoken. I didn’t have to learn rules or unlearn grammar because it was constantly modeled before me.  I picked it up easily and naturally.”  It’s the best way to learn.

Paul told us to learn Godly living by watching God.  Imitate Him and you will do the Godly action (Ephesians 5:1-2).

We learn to live holy lives by watching God.  He is holy.  It’s the same with righteousness and justice.  It’s especially true with love.  God is love (1 John 4:8).  If you want to know what love is, look at God and imitate Him. 

God showed us His love when He sent His only begotten Son into the world (1 John 4:9).  In this way we know how to love one another because God has shown us how He loved us.

Nothing works like an example.

How have you been blessed by a good example?