Your Daily Devotional for May 5, 2006

May 5, 2006

 

Nearness is Likeness

by Dr. Paul Chappell

 

“For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men: Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.”

 

1 Thessalonians 2:13-16

 

The church at Thessalonica was, indeed, a model church of the first century but not because its members didn’t suffer. As a matter of fact, it was a mighty church, in part, because the people had suffered greatly. Its testimony remained strong even when their own countrymen held these Christians in contempt. Their desire to follow and fulfill the Word of God was stronger than their desire to be popular. Rather than surrounding themselves with quitters or the Demases of the first century, the church of Thessalonica chose to surround itself with godly men, other faithful churches, and the fellowship of Christians who were being faithful to the calling of Jesus Christ.

 

Show me a church today that is carefully associating with other godly churches and other godly men—one that believes that Jesus Christ can come at any moment—and I’ll show you a church whose members are serious about their walk with God, because they recognize that He has privileged them with salvation. They realize, too, that Jesus is coming soon, so there is not a day, or even an hour, to waste.

 

The members of the church at Thessalonica were wise to open their hearts to the influence of the Apostle Paul: a man who demonstrated faithfulness during times of persecution, love even when under pressure, and optimism in his vision of the imminent return of Jesus Christ. We would be wise to learn from their example of making right choices about who we allow to influence us.

 

Yes, isn’t it amazing? You can choose who and what will influence you. After watching dozens of pastors and many church members as well, I can tell by a person’s associations where he or she is likely to be in a few years. After all, nearness is likeness. You will become the sum total of the friends you keep, the books you read, and the music you listen to. It’s your choice whether or not the television is turned on today and which channels will and won’t be viewed. You’ll choose with whom you will have lunch this week as well as what you will say and listen to during that hour. There may be some attempts to influence you that you are unable to push aside, but you can determine in what way those particular influences will affect your life. You would be wise to make these decisions under the leadership of the Lord.

 

The church at Thessalonica decided that they wanted to go in a way that is pleasing to the Saviour, and they chose to surround themselves with the kind of influences that would keep them going faithfully for the Lord Jesus Christ. Will you? Why not ask God to help you to choose the right influences every day?

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