1 Thessalonians 1:6-10

“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for in spite of persecution you received the word with joy inspired by the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.” vss. 6-7

During his ministry in Macedonia Paul and his companions knew that they were being watched carefully, not only by their opponents but by those who had come to believe in their message. At this time there was no accepted protocol for being a follower of Jesus, and Paul had been heavily dependent on the direction he was receiving from the Holy Spirit. So to get an idea about how to live as a Christian, believers simply imitated Paul, and it seemed to work pretty well. Not only did they learn how to deal with persecution, but they learned to lean on the Holy Spirit in their daily living.

Imitation continues to be the most effective way to begin walking in the footsteps of Jesus. In fact it’s probably even better than reading the bible or studying scripture. Somehow as we watch another person on the journey, their habits become our habits, and we actually become the presence of Christ. And sometimes we will even become examples of faithfulness for other believers. That’s why it’s so important for us to always remember that we are on display to those around us. People are watching whether we want them to or not–and for better or worse, they will always be learning!

Thought for the Day: Who is watching me?