Weekly Devotional - January 18, 2013

"You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous,

and blameless we were among you who believed."

1 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV

 

People are watching you. This is not some conspiracy theory about aliens or rogue governments. People all around you, normal (for the most part) people, people you know. They are watching Christians.

 

Some want to know if you are a hypocrite who plays the church game but doesn't really have a transformed life. When was the last time you heard someone say, "I'm better than most Christians I know so I don't need anything their church has to offer"? It wasn't that long ago was it. I hope they weren't talking about you...or me!

 

How you live matters because your choices, actions, words, and attitudes are a testimony to those outside the church of what it means to be part of the family of God. Does your testimony compel them to listen to the gospel or does it give them another excuse to ignore the gospel?

 

People within the family of God are also watching you, too. They may be skeptical of being "all in" and you could be the one to nudge them closer to Christ. They may be lonely and you could be the one to draw them into the warm fellowship found in the church. They may be confused and you could be the one to help them get a better grasp of how wide and deep and long the love of God is. They may be timid and you could be the one to encourage them so that they plug in to the joys of service and ministry.

 

Or you could be the one to push them away, leave them alone, create further misunderstanding, or remain the wallflower. So how you live matters. Was Paul trying to convince Christians in Thessalonica that he was perfectly holy, righteous, and blameless. Of course not. But he strived to be a good example.

 

What about you? Are you trying to be a good example for others? Pray that God will help you live a holy, righteous, and blameless life in front of others.