What I’m Thinking: Examples

The Apostle Paul commended the Thessalonians for imitating himself and the Lord. That’s not very humble of him, but it is true: Christians, all Christians, serve as examples to others of what discipleship is all about.

Here’s a transcript:

I’m thinking about those who are grieving after violence today. Last night at Church of the Holy Cross we lit fifty-eight candles at an interfaith prayer service honoring those who died in Las Vegas two weeks ago. We came home to learn that a bombing in Mogadishu has claimed the lives of at least two hundred more.

Our prayers are with the grieving and with those who have been lost. But our prayers must also become action. We must create a world in which these horrors are no more.

We must create a world in which peace reigns.

And I’m thinking about being an example. When Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica, he commended them for imitating himself and the Lord. Paul and the Lord – well, Paul was not a particularly humble person at times. Nevertheless, he’s on to something.

Each of us, as followers of Jesus, serves as an example, not just to the young people, who we tend to think about, but to everyone who is around us. If we can do the best we can at kindness, at humility (unlike Paul), at compassion, at love, at insisting upon justice for all, well, then, I think we are people worth imitating. And we will be faithful followers of Christ.

That’s what I’m thinking. I’m curious to hear about what you’re thinking. Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below; I’d love to hear from you.