20 Dec January 21st Daily Devotion

A SERIES OF DEVOTIONS BASED ON PAUL’S FIRST LETTER TO THE  CHURCH AT THESSALONICA

BE A MODEL TO ALL  

1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 “. . .  you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.  And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. . . your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

One of the definitions in the dictionary for the word model is “an example to imitate.”  Even with the advent of computer engineering car companies continue to build clay models of new designs to see what a concrete version will look like.  The fashion industry uses human models to display their latest creations so prospective purchasers of their latest and greatest dresses can be seen on a real person to entice women to try to emulate the look they have created.  Even architects create scale models of complexes they are designing if for no other reason than to use it to sell their idea to a developer.

Today’s devotional verse encouraged the Christians in Thessalonica to become, “ . . . a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”  The message was for them to be an example that the people in these locations would emulate what the Christians in Thessalonica believed and how they lived.

The Greek word found in today’s devotional verse that is translated “model” is found elsewhere in the New Testament.  In 1 Timothy 4:12 it is “. . . set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and purity.”  In Titus 2:7 Paul tells Titus to  model his faith in Christ through doing good works.  In 2 Corinthians 3:9 St. Paul exhorted the Corinthians Christians to be “examples to imitate.”

Jesus encouraged modeling with these words, “. . . let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) And, in Acts 1:8 Jesus said to His disciples, “ . . . you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Through your modeling your faith and trust in Jesus, becoming an example to others of Christian love, witnessing  the Gospel (telling the Good News about Jesus,) the Holy Spirit leads those who are not believers to faith in Jesus. Jesus taught in His Sermon on the Mount, “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house.”  Your modeling, serving as a Christian example, telling the Good News about Jesus is equivalent to “putting your Christian light on its stand” to reflect the Light of Christ to all around you.

Prayer:  Holy Spirit, lead me to serve as a Christian model to all with whom I come in contact daily.  In Jesus’ name.  Amen.

Rise, shine, you people! Christ the Lord has entered

Our human story; God in Him is centered.

He comes to us, by death and sin surrounded,

With grace unbounded.

See how He sends the pow’rs of evil reeling;

He brings us freedom, light and life and healing.

All men and women, who by guilt are driven,

Now are forgiven.

Come, celebrate, your banners high unfurling,

Your songs and prayers against the darkness hurling.

To all the world go out and tell the story Of Jesus’ glory.

Tell how the Father sent His Son to save us,

Tell of the Son, who life and freedom gave us.

Tell how the Spirit calls from ev’ry nation

His new creation.

(LSB 825)