June 19, 2024
Read Judges 6, Song of Songs 3, 1 Thessalonians 1
Some where in my teenage years I discovered the phrase “super models.” These were not just ordinary models, they were “super models.” They were the most well-known models of the time. They got on all the covers of magazines and got all the attention from the public. What would you think if I told you that God wanted you to be a super model too! No, not that kind of model, but a spiritual one.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica he encouraged them with these words, “You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. vv. 5b-6. The believers watched the lives of Paul and his mission team, and they copied their behavior and beliefs. “And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia” v. 7. They became the model for the next believers that would come after them. Paul reminds them that their faith got the attention of people everywhere. “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” v. 8.
What a challenge for us today. Imagine what it would look like if the church caught the attention of the world (in a good way) and they could look to us as a model for how to live their lives. It all starts with us individually.
What else do you see in these chapters? What words, phrases, or themes stand out to you?
Add your thoughts below.
DId God Really Say... 