Set a Positive Example; First Thessalonians

May the mumbling commence!

Being the church means setting a positive example for the people of our neighborhoods and towns and cities.  It is this impact that Paul writes about in the first chapter of First Thessalonians (KJV):

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:  So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.  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 anything.  For they themselves show 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; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. (Verses 6-10)

A positive example can carry far – from neighborhood to town to city to state to country to world.  Faith in God is the fuel to be a good example.  And faith in God means that we no longer place our faith in other things above the Lord.

Our faith can no longer be in riches or knowledge or fame or fortune or influence.  All of these things seem good to our eyes.  But all of these are dead end streets when we put them before our faith in Christ Jesus.

To put our faith in God before all these seemingly good things means that we will often have to wait on the Lord.  As we wait on God, we exercise our faith – knowing that God is living and true.  God will supply all our needs (not all our wants). 

So, this positive example we give to the world is separating our needs from our wants.  Separation of needs and wants is rarely done in this world.  And, when it is done, it is even rarer to be done well.

Let us have our primary faith in Jesus.  Let us wait on Jesus.  Let us hold loosely to all other sources of hope – wealth, knowledge, fame, fortune, and influence.  Let us use these other things to benefit all people and glorify God.

Now, that’s a good example!

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out