Thoughts for Life: Exemplary Christianity

James H. Cagle: Christians at Thessalonica were talked about by everyone. The talk wasn’t about the size of the church, its church activities, or how much money they made selling their religious paraphernalia.

“So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia . . . also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad” (I Thess. 1:7-8).

The talk instead was about the miracle of the change that took place upon their receiving Christ as their Lord and Savior.

The first of three things mentioned in verses nine and ten of this same chapter, was “they turned to God from idols.”

When these pagans and idolaters got saved they made an about-face and began doing the very opposite of what they had done before.

They completely forsook their sin and ungodliness when they got saved and turned to God.

This should be the case every time someone genuinely gets saved. Salvation is deliverance from the power and practice of sin in order that we might by the grace of God live our new life in Christ.

When someone truly gets saved the center of their life becomes Jesus Christ and everything else follows after.

The second part to these Christians testimony was that they began “to serve the living and true God.”

It would be hard for anyone to believe these individuals actually got saved if their faith was not followed by works (James. 2:20, 26).

Whatever they did after their getting saved they did it to the glory of God (I Cor. 10:31). Their lives were lived in obedience to God’s Word.

Every duty, job, and responsibility, from working their regular jobs to church work to evangelism, was done with the express purpose of pointing others to Jesus and being a light in a dark sinful world.

The third part is “to wait for his Son from heaven, . . . even Jesus.” A Christian is someone who rests in the promise of Jesus personal return (Acts 1:11) and who believes and expects the rapture to take place at any moment.

It is keeping this vision of His return alive in our hearts that is the impetus for living a holy life (I Jn. 3:3).

All three elements of a Christian testimony coincide with
the three elements of sanctification. There is initial sanctification, which is deliverance from the power of sin, which happens at regeneration, when we “turn to God from idols.”

This is positional, and has to do with our standing in Christ, becoming members of God’s family, and being translated into Christ’ kingdom (Col. 1: 13).

Then there is progressive sanctification, which is deliverance from the practice of sin, which is incomplete, an ongoing process, as we obey and serve Christ, our character is changed and we are transformed into Christ’ likeness (Rom. 12: 1, 2).

Finally, there is ultimate sanctification, which is the long awaited deliverance from the presence of sin, receiving a body like Christ’, going to be with Christ, being transported into Christ’ presence at the rapture" (1 Cor. 15: 51-57; Rom. 8:30). James H. Cagle

Today’s Bible verse-

“So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and

Achaia . . . also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad” (I Thess. 1:7-8).

Let's pray-

Father, our instructions are clear today; we are expected to become like Christ, if in deed we've accepted Him into our lives and hearts.

May we examine our motives, actions, and thoughts each day, to make sure they honor You, and to be sure they are in line with what You ask of us as Your children.

I ask this in the Name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.

Today’s quote:

Oswald Chambers said, "Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord's surprise visits."

Our thought today-

Do we understand God's holiness? (see Is. 6:1) The angles cried "Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory."

No doubt, Isaiah's response would be ours too, if we could now see the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and see his train filling the temple!

Our question today-

Will we say, "Woe is me! like he did? when we see Him
someday? Or will we fall in love with Him now, accept His Salvation work on the cross and look forward to that moment at the end of our lives?

Upcoming posts-

#43 We Need New Mighty Movements of the Soul

17th- Tuesday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

#44 The Most Important Measure of Prayer

19th- Thursday's post by Dr. Wesley L. Duewel

Lord, Save Us! We're Perishing!

21st- Saturday's post by Jean Oathout

The Fragrance of Christ

22nd- Sunday's post by Marion Stroud

A popular post:

Conscience

James H. Cagle: The word
conscience and consciences are found
32 times in the Bible, in which the states and functions of the conscience are revealed.

The conscience is a spiritual organ used as a point of reference, a present guide to conduct, an immediate standard of perfection and holiness..."