Are You Model Material?

Well, I am 5’ 6”, I wear a size 8 shoe, and I am about average in weight. What do you think? Hmmm… not quite the point I was trying to make. Many times, when we hear the word, “model” we think of the airbrushed divas on the covers of magazines. Or maybe the ladies that wear those eccentric, unique, (or just plain weird) fashion designer clothes on a runway. Well, the church in Thessalonica was not seen on the cover of a magazine, but they were a different kind of model. Those believers were excellent examples that were worthy of being imitated. Even in the midst of suffering, they kept the faith and had true joy. Because of their testimony, their faith in God became known everywhere…now THAT is true model material! (“…in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia- your faith in God has become known everywhere.” 1 Thess. 1:6b-8) And, just as people started watching and modeling their lives after them, the Thessalonians watched and modeled their lives after Paul, Silas, and Timothy… (“…you became imitators of us…” 1 Thess. 1:6a). It’s a chain reaction…we can imitate other believers, and in turn, they can imitate us. But, ultimately, we have ONE top model that we imitate…JESUS CHRIST. So, who is imitating you? Is that good news or bad news? Let’s make sure that we are all model material…there are a lot of “wanna be” models watching…