“A Life That Matters” (Part 2)

We are looking this week at what constitutes a life that matters—a life that influences others for the cross of Christ. On Monday we saw this is critical because people need examples. Today we move to a second reason this is critical…

People Need To Be Examples (1 Thess. 1:6)

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. (vv.6-10)

So, when we follow examples, our lives then begin to exemplify those things to others as well. The believers at Thessalonica had followed the example (“imitators”) of Paul, and as a result had themselves become “examples”—the word means to “strike a seal” or “make an imprint”. There lives had been imprinted by the example of Paul, and now their lives were likewise imprinting the lives of others. The example of their faith was marking the lives of others.

Why does this matter? Because we don’t have the option of being spiritual sponges who sit and soak up the things of Christ—we are to be instruments God can use to model Christ for others. We need examples so that we can observe how to walk with God, and we need to be examples because others need to be able to observe examples of how to walk with God.

Friday we will see a final reason to view the power of influence in living a life that matters.