A young boy looked up at his grandfather and wondered aloud, “Grandpa, how do you live for Jesus?” The respected grandfather stooped down and quietly told the boy, “Just watch.”

As the years went by the grandfather was an example to the boy of how to follow Jesus. He stayed rock-steady in living for Him. Yet the grandson often lived in a way that was not pleasing to God.

One day the young man visited his grandfather for what both knew would be the last time. As the older man lay dying, his grandson leaned over the bed and heard his grandpa whisper, “Did you watch?”

That was the turning point in the boy’s life. He understood that when his grandpa had said, “Just watch,” he meant, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.” He vowed that from then on he would live as his grandfather did – striving to please Jesus. He had watched, and now he knew how to live.

Can your grandchildren watch you and know how to live for Jesus? Can your children watch you and know how to live for Jesus? Can co-workers watch you and know how to live for Jesus? Can the public watch you and know how to live for Jesus? This is your legacy. What are you leaving behind for others? Are you leaving money, fame, fortune, good times or things? Or are you leaving behind the legacy of a life well lived for Jesus?

Paul said in 1 Corinthians 4:16: “Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me.”

He said it again in Philippians 3:17: “Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.” Paul told them to follow his example. In other words, “Imitate me and the way I follow Christ.”

We must have examples to follow in the Christian life. That’s one reason we have the Bible. We read about people who lived lives of faith and trust in God in the Bible, and they are our examples. They encourage us greatly. But we also need living examples of faith in Christ. We need to know that people are really living for Christ in the here and now. We need people that we can watch and observe and, yes, even imitate for Christ’s sake so that we will be encouraged and strengthened in our own walk with Christ.

I know that there are many of you that people can watch and know how to live for Christ. I encourage you to keep walking with Him, keep walking in His strength and power. You never know who is watching you. But I guarantee you this…someone is watching!

Watch sermons and read sermon texts and other articles by going to tomahawkmbc.com. Listen to Pastor Jack Ward’s sermons on WSIP FM 98.9 every Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Watch his sermons on his Facebook page. Find him on Rumble, Bitchute and Brighteon video platforms.