A Living Example
The message was brought by Rev Reynolds Frye
3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour
of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of
God and our Father;
4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what
manner of men we were among you for your sake.
6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is
spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in
we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the
living and true God;
10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
Paul was on his second missionary journey when he came to Thessalonica. Most people there were Gentiles who served idols. There is much of this going on today in the dark, hidden places of the world. Jesus said He is the way, the truth and the life. The only hope we have is in Jesus. Preachers are not the only ones who should spread this word. Everyone is to do it. We are to be a living example.
Paul led the people to the Lord. Verse 9 tells us that it's one thing to say I love the Lord; we are to show it. Paul said they TURNED from their idols to the Lord–a living example. I remember the day I TURNED. When anyone of us TURN from a life of sin, we are to become that living example.
Paul himself had to make a TURN. He persecuted believers in Christ. He had them beaten, killed or put in prison. A light shined from heaven that caused him to TURN from his evil ways. Ananias became a living example when he went to see Paul, whom he knew to be a persecutor.
We become a living example when we show and tell others about the salvation of the Lord. Verse 5 shows that he came to them with much assurance. This is not anything to toy with; we need to be examples and boldly tell the news.
Jesus taught the disciples an important lesson when He washed their feet. He became a living example to them in this area too. It is a humbling experience and it is our way of showing to the Lord and others–being a living example–of the life Jesus has given us. There are so many in the world who are in need of this example–the drug addict, the alcoholic, anyone who is unsaved. As a church and a Christian we need to reach out and be an example to those around us.
If God wants us to do something, the way is there to do it. Without Jesus there is no hope. WE MUST be a living example.