Paul, Silas and Timothy arrived in Thessalonica, after having just been beaten and imprisoned in Phillip for casting a demonic spirit out of a fortune-telling slave girl.
God showed up, shook Phillipi with an earthquake, opened the prison doors, loosed prison chains, and brought revival to the entire household of the jailer.
It was after these events that Paul and his teammates arrived in Thessalonica.
Paul shared the good news about Jesus Christ, whereupon some of the Jews believed in Jesus, as well as a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women. (Acts 17:4)
Paul did not have much time to teach these brand-new followers of Jesus. He, Silas, and Timothy were only in Thessalonica a month or two. Passions were running high in the city concerning this Jesus!
Imagine, as a brand-new follower of Jesus you are learning about the one true God for the very first time. This is all brand new! Imagine your pastor is doing his best to teach you. But passions are running so high in your city that your pastor is driven out of town!
How will you learn now?? Who will teach you now??
Distressed at having to leave so suddenly, Paul wrote a letter to these brand-new Christians shortly thereafter.
“You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:5-6
“We were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8
“You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:10
“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12
A picture is worth a thousand words!
The incredible impact of an example!
Paul did not have much time to teach these brand-new followers of Jesus. But the example of his life spoke volumes!
The picture of Paul’s life demonstrated what it practically looks like to follow Jesus.
* Gentleness
* Love
* Holy
* Righteous
* Blameless
* Encouraging
* Comforting
* Living worthy of God
In writing to these brand-new Christians of Thessalonica, Paul uses the example of a mother and a father. A child will watch their mother and father and imitate what they see.
In my own personal life, much of who my daughter is today is a “mirror” (so to speak) of my own life. My daughter has grown up to become a “little me” in many ways.
Much of who my son is today is a “mirror” (so to speak) of my hubby’s life. The way my son thinks, his decision-making, his communication style, the phrases he uses without thinking … it’s a reflection of my hubby.
Hubby’s very first job out of college, as he was just starting his career, he had an incredible boss who left a lasting impression! Hubby only worked for this boss for a brief time. But this boss had such a profound impact, that who hubby is in his career today is a direct reflection (a “mirror”) of this very first boss.
As hubby has advanced in his career, he has had employees work for him. And just like happened to hubby, his employees have become a reflection (a “mirror”) of who hubby is. It’s been remarkable to watch.
Hubby doesn’t tell his employees they need to be this way or that way. They just automatically change and become this way or that based upon what they see in hubby’s life.
The incredible impact of an example!
We all are being an example to someone. Someone is watching our life … whether we realize it or not.
What is the picture that our life is showing them??
The brand-new Christians in Thessalonica were loving … because they saw an example of what love looks like in the life of their pastor.
The brand-new Christians in Thessalonica were gentle and kind towards each other … because they saw this modeled for them in the life of their pastor.
The saw what day-to-day holiness looks like … as lived out in the life of their pastor.
They saw what it looks like to live a righteous life.
This example was far more powerful than all the classes they could have taken. It was far more powerful than years of teaching. A picture is worth a thousand words!
Paul was snatched away … unable to teach them as he had hoped. But they would be ok … because they had the example of his life to follow.
Who in your own life has been a powerful example for you of what it looks like to follow Jesus?
