BECOMING A CHRISTIAN MODEL - PART 1

MONDAY 03 OCTOBER 2022

Becoming a Christian model to others in your world is God's perfect will, as well as more rewarding part of His plan for your life. It takes a diligent effort to keep conforming to Christ's image as you believe in the Scriptures and study them habitually. When properly meditated upon, the Word of God has the ability to reveal and establish its truth in your life, such that it becomes evident that you represent the Kingdom of God on earth. So as you train yourself to study it with a humble and open heart and to practise it often, you'll remain a vibrant and influential part of the glorious church Christ is building, raising and preparing for His soon return.

Reference: 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 New International Version (NIV) "And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it."

While apostle Paul was making a thanksgiving note with his preaching companions for the faith of the Thessalonian Church, he testified about how they became their imitators and of the Lord, and welcomed the gospel message in the midst of harsh suffering - with unspeakable joy granted by the Holy Spirit. From then on, the saints became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. They proclaimed and spread the Word of God, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. For this reason, Paul, Silas and Timothy acknowledged that their faith towards God had gone out effectively, such that they did not need to point out any fault among them.

As Christian models, the Thessalonian saints completely turned from all forms of idols and served the living and true God in Spirit and in truth. For them to have become good Christian models to others, their faith was tested by severe trial and challenges, and found to have stood the test. So apostle Paul hit the right force of epistolary expression when he rendered them as saints serving as a typical embodiment of appropriate Christian models to others in their world.

How can we make ourselves and our Christian faith, an example for others to follow or imitate? Firstly, we should give ourselves to the ministry of the Word which is all-important in making straight paths for our feet and in sharing and advancing the gospel truth in our various world. No wonder 2 Timothy 2:15 says, "Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (NKJV). In other words, to be rightly dividing the Word of truth means to explore and get into the many-sided depths of the Word tissues, substance and composites, in order to grasp the original meaning of the Scriptures by the inspiration of the Spirit. It also involves being prepared to change your existing insight if God shows you something new in the Word, and being willing to accept it as a progressive revelation.

The Bible says, "But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of Him everywhere" (2 Corinthians 2:14 ESV). Beloved, as Christian role models, we have a possessed and enduring influence of spreading the aroma of the knowledge of Christ everywhere, like a sweet perfume. By learning to manage and handle the Word rightly as an undisputed and undiluted truth, we become God's reliable ambassadors and truth-bearers everywhere we go, thereby making known to others the salvation that is in Christ Jesus as we proclaim in their hearing, the life-transforming gospel truth. Stay tuned for part 2. Shalom!

Scripture Reading - 1 Corinthians 11:1; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 John 2:6; Colossians 3:13.

Guided Prayer: Dear heavenly Father, your Word has ministered grace to me in a very clear, heart-searching lexicon. Indeed you have laid down in your Word, how to live the truth and become its expression in my world. Therefore I obviously function as a Christian model to others in my world as I walk through the path of righteousness, thereby spreading the Word and bringing the lost to the knowledge of Christ in Jesus' Name, Amen.