1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NIV) And so you became a model to all the believers Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.

The main hub of the fashion industry of this country is found in New York City. New York is home to fifty of the top fashion schools in the world. Many an aspiring fashion model have made their way there in hopes of landing an upscale modeling opportunity that will launch them into fame and fortune in the world of fashion. While not everyone becomes a famous model, there is a lot of money to be made when you are accepted into that world.

While people in the world like to model what the world offers, we as followers of Christ are called to model Jesus. Just as fashion models don't wear their own clothes but instead wear the clothes of the fashion designer who hired them, so we are supposed to remove our old clothes and wear the clothes that God gives us to wear. The Bible tells us to clothe ourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ (Romans 13:14). As we clothe ourselves with Jesus, we then begin to model Him for everyone that we encounter. That's exactly what the Thessalonian believers were doing in Thessalonica. They were doing it so well that word about their faith reached not only outside of the city and the surrounding regions, but even beyond that as well. Without looking for any notoriety, their faith in Jesus became known all over. What was their secret? Their secret was in the power of being. What I mean by that is that they were not just Christians in name or Christians who had at some point received Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and were satisfied with the status quo. Instead, they were living the abundant life that Jesus spoke about by modeling Jesus everywhere that they went. When you are clothed with Jesus, the difference in you is so radical that it catches the attention of people around you. When it's a group of people doing the modeling, such as people that are part of a local church, the word goes out beyond the city where the church is and sometimes, the word about them reaches around the world.

That's what is supposed to happen. Just think about the huge stir and the excitement that Jesus caused wherever He went and the radical change that He made in everyone that He encountered. Of course, His fame not only spread then but has continued to spread to almost every corner of the world. Now that same Jesus is alive in us, and we wear His righteousness. And just like the fashion designer gets all the credit for the clothes that the models wear, so Christ Jesus gets all the glory for the clothes that we wear. The Bible says that being clothed with Jesus even comes with a beautiful fragrance, spreading the love of Jesus everywhere (2 Corinthians 2:15-16). So be sure to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and be a bright shining model wherever you are and wherever you go. You just never know just how far news of that modeling for Christ will go!

Pastor Joey Vazquez