by A.W. Tozer

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. First Timothy 4:12

A sacred obligation lies upon each of us to be Christlike. This generation of Christians must have models it can safely admire. That is not the primary reason for seeking to be holy, but it is a powerful one. Many beginners are taking us for their examples. Later they will become detached from us and will learn to fix their eyes directly upon the Lord Himself; in the meantime, for better or for worse we are their idea of what Christ is like. This is a wonderful and frightening fact that we must face and deal with as we may.

We are under deep obligation to do all in our power to shatter the “common” image, which is now accepted as standard for men in and out of the church. The nations need uncommon men to guide them and the church needs uncommon Christians. And we had better take this whole thing seriously.

by A.W. Tozer