Conduct That Convinces

You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.

1 Thessalonians 2:10 (NIV)

In a sermon on the role and responsibility of a father within the family, a pastor clearly stated that a father's true teaching does not always lie in the words he speaks to his children, but rather in the way he lives. Children do not seek to imitate their parents based on what is said; instead, they seek to adopt their attitudes and behaviors. They absorb every detail of that conduct, and as they grow up, they remember the words that left a lasting mark on their lives. In adulthood, it is the lessons learned that guide their existence.

Consider Paul’s work among the Christians in Thessalonica: he was like a spiritual father to them, a model to follow. It was his way of life that revealed whether he was a man after God’s own heart or a man of the world—the very world from which he sought to lead them away. Paul was certain that his conduct was beyond reproach; he knew that not only his disciples but God Himself were witnesses to it. That is why he did not hesitate to affirm the blameless nature of his actions; on the contrary, his conduct was holy and righteous.

Believe it or not, someone is watching you—following you closely—without you even realizing it, and that person likely wishes to be like you. You might ask yourself, "Who am I that someone would want to be like me or view me as a role model?" It is not a position of leadership that draws eyes to us, but rather our attitude and our conduct. You can evangelize—or even lead someone to repentance—without ever uttering a word. It was not always Jesus’s words that drew the crowds, but His love for them and the way He welcomed them. You can do the same.

May the grace and peace of God be with you.