From the sound of things, the Thessalonians were excellent students. They paid attention and followed instructions. They were a shining example of living out
their faith. In Chapter 1 Paul writes, “And
so you became a model to all the believers” (v. 7).
Paul gives them a “gold star,” but more than once encourages
them to do “more and more.” He doesn’t want
them to be satisfied, but to keep striving for greater holiness.
We too are called to “do more” – to keep reading Scripture
and learning his Word - to keep praying and asking for guidance – to keep
living a holy life. We’re never going to
have faith all figured out. There’s
always more to learn and ways to grow, but we certainly can serve as examples to
others along the way.
Don’t we all need role models to show us how to stand firm
in the Lord? To be encouragers of the faith?
Thank goodness for the Thessalonians. Not everyone who heard the message, lived it
out the way they did. If you go slightly
beyond today’s passage to verse 12, Paul says, “so that your daily life may win
the respect of outsiders.”
It’s in our everyday living when we truly show outsiders
what it means to be a disciple of Christ.
It’s not Sunday worship alone that gets it done. It’s living out the message to love each
other day by day. When Christ becomes a habit, a part of your daily routine and
people can see it in the smallest of actions, then you are truly living to please
God.
