Monday, March 17, 2014

Exemplary Behavior, 7th Characteristic of the Elect (1 Thessalonians 1:7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/17/2014 8:54 AM
My Worship Time                              Focus:  Exemplary Behavior, 7th Characteristic of the Elect
Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  1 Thessalonians 1:7
            Message of the verse: “7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.”  7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”  (HCSB)  “7 Do you know that all over the provinces of both Macedonia and Achaia believers look up to you?”  (Message)
            The reason that (as seen in the Message), believers looked up to them was because of what Paul wrote in verse six:  “You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit.”
            As believers in Jesus Christ we want to become more and more like Jesus Christ:  “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren (John 8:29).” We have already seen from verse six that Paul was thankful that the Thessalonian believers were imitating, or they were like the examples of the Lord Jesus Christ, and also of Paul, Timothy, and Silas.  Now they have become examples for other believers.  John MacArthur writes about the word translated “Example.”  “Example is the Greek word tupos (‘exact reproduction’), from which the English type derives.  The Thessalonians became like blueprints for others throughout the region to build their lives on (cf. 1 John 2:6).”  “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked (1 John 2:6).” 
            During Paul’s life and time the Providences of Achaia had cities of Athens and Corinth in them and were in the South while the Providence of Macedonia was in the North and had cities of Thessalonica, Philippi, and Berea in it.  The Thessalonian believers were an example to those who were in both Providences of Macedonia and also Achaia.  An example of this is seen in 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 where Paul writes “1 Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, 2  that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. 3  For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, 4  begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints, 5  and this, not as we had expected, but they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us by the will of God.”  Paul is telling those in Corinth that there was a wonderful example given by those in Macedonia about giving and also about stewardship as they out of their poverty gave more than they were able to give to the saints.  (I believe the money was going to the church in Judah). 
            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The Thessalonian believers are truly a great example to follow as they in a short time became imitators of the Lord, and also of those who brought them the Gospel, and then they themselves became examples for others to follow.  It is wonderful that their great example can be seen in today’s world for me to follow too.
My Steps of Faith for Today:  To be like the Thessalonian believers.
Memory verses for the week:  Philippians 2:5-9
5 Have this attitude in yourself which was also in Christ Jesus, 6 who, although He existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.  8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.  9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
Answer to yesterday’s Bible question:  “Timothy” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
Today’s Bible question:  “Who did God give that believers might live?”
Answer in our next SD.

3/17/2014 10:06 AM   

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