Many of you know that our son Steve does very occasional modelling (more often he does commercials and hopes for more movies). His wife, Vanessa has had quite a successful career for a few years as a model (not the typical run-way model, but modelling for a variety of stores, hotel websites, certain lines of shoes, etc.) It was amusing to us a year ago, that at the same time as our daughter Jeannie was a true "growing" expectant mother, Vanessa, slim as she is, was asked to model for a maternity line of clothes, as a "pretend" expectant mother.
For some strange reason, I have never been asked to be a model for any line of clothing. Perhaps the talent scouts have not thought to recruit you either. But all of us are expected to be models/examples, if we are followers of Christ. I am re-reading I Thessalonians this week which caused me to think of modelling - the Christian life, not fashions. Paul writes to the Thessalonians as a fellowship, not as individuals, that they "became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia". This happened at least partly because they were imitating Paul's model. (1:6 - 8)
Paul says that the Thessalonian Christians "became imitatiors of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus." (2:14) This happened as they accepted God's word and apparently responded in obedience and faith. The result was that they were persecuted for their loyalty to Jesus, just as the Judean churches were persecuted.
The word translated as model or example appears a number of times in Paul's inspired writings. He knew that he as a teacher and leader needed to provide a model for younger believers. He also called other individuals to make sure they were providing a good example for others - for instance see I Timothy 4:12.
We all need models, provided by those who are ahead of us in Christian maturity. We also profit greatly when others ,who are a stage or two ahead of us in life's journey, are good models of Christian commitment. Maybe no one will ever ask you to pose for photos as a model; but there are some younger believers who need you to be a model for them.
For some strange reason, I have never been asked to be a model for any line of clothing. Perhaps the talent scouts have not thought to recruit you either. But all of us are expected to be models/examples, if we are followers of Christ. I am re-reading I Thessalonians this week which caused me to think of modelling - the Christian life, not fashions. Paul writes to the Thessalonians as a fellowship, not as individuals, that they "became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia". This happened at least partly because they were imitating Paul's model. (1:6 - 8)
Paul says that the Thessalonian Christians "became imitatiors of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus." (2:14) This happened as they accepted God's word and apparently responded in obedience and faith. The result was that they were persecuted for their loyalty to Jesus, just as the Judean churches were persecuted.
The word translated as model or example appears a number of times in Paul's inspired writings. He knew that he as a teacher and leader needed to provide a model for younger believers. He also called other individuals to make sure they were providing a good example for others - for instance see I Timothy 4:12.
We all need models, provided by those who are ahead of us in Christian maturity. We also profit greatly when others ,who are a stage or two ahead of us in life's journey, are good models of Christian commitment. Maybe no one will ever ask you to pose for photos as a model; but there are some younger believers who need you to be a model for them.
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