Paul the
apostle instructed the Thessalonian church members to “withdraw”
themselves “from every brother that walks
disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of”
Paul and his traveling companions. In chapter three and verse seven
of this second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul told the church
members how they “ought to follow”
he and his entourage where we read:
For
yourselves know how you ought to follow us:
for we
behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;
The
verse begins, “For yourselves know
how you ought to follow us:...”
Paul began with the word, “For”
which means
“as, because, even, indeed, no doubt, seeing then, therefore and
verily” “yourselves” which
refers to the Thessalonian church members “know”
or “see, perceive, notice, discern and discover” “how
you ought”
which means “it is necessary, there is need of, behooves, is right
and proper” “to follow us”
or “imitate” Paul and his companions. Paul continued his idea of
the Thessalonians obeying the “traditions”
or “doctrine” which he and his companions taught and gave
themselves as examples to “imitate” in their Christian walk.
The verse goes on to
say, “...for we behaved not ourselves
disorderly among you;”
Paul went on to add the reason the Thessalonians should “follow”
he and his
companions, “for we behaved not
ourselves disorderly”
which in Greek is the phrase “atakteō
ou atakteō” and
means
“out of order, neglectful of duty, lawless or quitting of the
ranks” “among you”
which refers to the church members. Paul used the example of soldiers
who march out of order and “quit their ranks” to describe a
contrast between his group and those who disobeyed the “gospel
of Jesus Christ”.
Rather than “following”
those who were in opposition to the gospel, the Thessalonians were to
“imitate” the example of Paul and his friends.
When
we meditate upon Paul's words, we understand his reason for being an
example for the Thessalonians to “follow”,
and we are inspired to “imitate” those who are living Christian
lives before us. We should seek to live our lives in a manner that is
in keeping with the doctrine of the Bible so others will “follow”
us as well. With so many alternatives, false teachings and ideas
presented before us each day, we will do well to seek the scriptures
and be certain those we follow are not “out of rank” and
“disorderly”. May the Lord Jesus give us discernment through the
Holy Spirit, and may we “follow”
those who ascribe to His gospel and His alone.
Next
time Paul tells the Thessalonians how he and his companions did not
want to be “chargeable to any of”
them, so
read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be
Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on the
Mount” in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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