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, and there is much said about this money that was
going to go to Jerusalem).
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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