Daily Devotional for Wednesday, April 3

The Exemplary Church

“So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia,” 1 Thessalonians 1:7.

If you have ever talked to someone who collects coins or stamps, you will have learned that all runs of a particular coin or stamp should look the same. If a coin is minted or a stamp printed with a mistake, it becomes precious to collectors. The goal is for them to all look precisely alike. The word “ensamples” we see in our verse refers to our illustration idea. That word in Greek refers to a stamp that was used to mark wax or a stamp that minted coins.

Paul commended these believers in Thessalonica for literally being model believers. We see just before this in our devotional passage that this church had suffered some things; yet, they held firm and kept doing the right thing. This church was an excellent example for others to follow, and Paul told us all that in his letter. We must remember that these epistles, while written to the people of that time, are also written to us today.

It matters a lot whether people want what you have. It matters a lot that people not be repelled by what you have. Our faith, lived as Jesus provided the example, is attractive by its very nature. If we live like Jesus, people will want to live like us. On the other hand, when we live by our standards, fulfilling our own desires, then the odds are high that we will repel people. It is not that difficult to do; we must start by being willing to do it.

Are you ready to be a good example for Jesus? That is a good start. Next, get in His Word and learn how to do it. Finally, get out in the world and show Him to people.

JUST A THOUGHT
Do you provide others with an example of what to do or what not to do?

Wally Fry