Daily Devotional for Tuesday, April 9

Paul the Pattern

“For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile,” 1 Thessalonians 2:3.

When most of us were children, there was somebody we wanted to be like. I grew up in the early days of the moon missions; I wanted to be an astronaut. I was excited that there was an astronaut whose name I shared, Wally Schirra. Some kids want to be first responders. Some want to be entertainers or athletes. The point is, most of us look to something to provide an example for us to follow.

Paul regularly used his conduct as an example to readers. On the surface, this might seem a bit egotistical, but in light of Paul’s other writings, it clearly was not. Paul was just stating facts. Paul also never claimed credit for his successes; he always made it clear that without Jesus, he was nothing. Jesus set an example that Paul followed, providing a pattern for other believers to copy in their lives. In our devotional verse, Paul used three words to show that his ministry was pure, sound and from God. He came teaching the truth, not lies, lived a clean, godly life and was just as he appeared to be. Even though many tried to say he was, Paul was not a hypocrite. With Paul, what you saw was what you got!

The Holy Spirit inspired Paul to write these words because they are for us today. Paul only told us of his own conduct to show us how God expects us to live. We must always look in the mirror of the Bible, see our flaws and fix them. Do you look in that mirror and walk away thinking you look good spiritually when you do not? Or, do you look honestly and change?

JUST A THOUGHT
Are you as clean on the inside as you appear on the outside? If you are not, God knows; others will eventually learn who you really are.

Wally Fry