“The power of example”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Tuesday, April 23, 2024
1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 (Forward, p. 85) CEV p. 1237
Several days ago, I came across a podcast by Josh McDowell where he explained some of the seismic and earth-shaking changes that have taken place in public perceptions, especially those of the younger generations. Whereas old generations believed that ‘if it is true, then it will work’, the newer generations believe the opposite, ‘if it works, then it is true.’ What those generations mean by that is ‘if the evidence is there, if it plays out in action, then we know that it is true.’ And what that implies is that if someone claims to know Christ and be following Him, but doesn’t live it, then the whole notion of knowing and following Jesus is wrong as well. In other words, one’s example is everything. On the opposite side of the coin, those of the earlier generation would say, ‘oh yes, those people are ‘bad eggs’ in that those people aren’t behaving in the way they should, but that doesn’t mean that the underlying principle or truth is flawed or wrong. To them it is like saying that because someone chooses to drive recklessly with a certain make and model of a car, say a Ford Focus, it doesn’t mean that this make and model of car is in the wrong. However, according to McDowell, example, behaviour, is ‘everything’ for these younger people, which perhaps accounts for a certain amount of the disillusionment that has beset some of them. Their elders have sometimes been anything but wholesome examples of how people should live.
Paul the apostle, in today’s letter to the Christians in Thessalonica, has a lot to say about the power of example.
Paul initially praises them for their faith, love and hope, and for how they
have followed the example of himself and his colleagues, but also the example of the Lord Jesus.
And then he goes on to say how they have become an example to others, to ‘all of the Lord’s followers in Macedonia and Achaia.’ And here he offers some specifics:
“Because of you, the Lord’s message has spread everywhere in those regions. Now the news of your faith in God is known all over the world and we don’t have to say a thing about it” (verses 7-8).
So, their faith in God, which obviously so evident, has become a tool and an instrument of evangelism, of bringing others to the faith.
“Everyone is talking about how you welcomed us and how you turned away from idols to serve the true and living God” (verse 9).
Here we see a couple more vivid instances of how they are serving as examples to others, evident in their love and care for their fellow believers as shown in their welcome and hospitality, and in their obedience in forsaking their past objects of affection (idols) in order to serve God. Again, it would seem that these behaviours are obvious enough that others can see them.
“They also tell how you are waiting for his Son Jesus to come from heaven. God raised him from death, and on the day of judgment Jesus will save us from God’s anger” (verse 10).
This, here, says something about their fervent and firm hope in Jesus Christ, a hope that sustains them even though, as verse 6 implies, they have had to suffer for their faith. And, again, this is something quite obvious to the casual bystander.
So then, what about us? What about our faith and trust in God, our love for each other, our forsaking of all that is not of God, and our firm and unflinching hope in God, that despite all that happens around us, He is still here for us and still working out everything for our good”. What about our examples? In this day of doubt and skepticism, when almost everything is ‘up for grabs’ and suspect, our examples have become all important. Let us, then, with the help and guidance of Christ Jesus, try to do better in this regard. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “You have received the word with joy, inspired by the Holy Spirit” (verse 6c).
“In a memorable Vacation Bible School, one of our activities was to learn the names of the books of the New Testament in order. We had the good spiritual fortune to learn the names by singing them. The gospels were pretty easy, but the names became more challenging after those. Mrs. Thomas played a lilting tune on the piano, and we struggled to make it from Acts to Ephesians. And then came the sounds I’ll never forget. I can sing
them today in that distinctive rhythm: Phi-lip-i-ans, Col-los-i-ans, first and second Thess-a-lo-ni-ans. The tune rose at the end of that sequence through Thessalonians. From there, it was smoothly on through to Jude and Rev-e-la-tion. By the finish of Vacation Bible School, I could sing the names of the books of then entire New Testament, and we were each given a copy of the Holy Bible, which I still have.
“In an unforgettable experience, we received and shared the Word with joy, inspired by the Holy Spirit.”
Moving Forward: “Do you remember a time when a special teacher taught you something you thought would be too difficult to learn? Thank them today.”