1 Thessalonians 1:7
…so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

The result of embracing joy amidst affliction is becoming a powerful example of how the grace of God works in and through a person. When we praise God -- not only when circumstances are favorable, but also when pressures come against us -- we show those apart from Christ an example of what God desires for their life as well.

If a person claims to be a doctor, they may show you shelves full of books and walls full of degrees, but the only viable evidence that their claim is genuine comes when a patient is present. Are they able to diagnose the problem and offer steps to treat it? Do they have a working knowledge of basic medical procedures and practices? Do they possess the ability to identify and properly use the tools at their disposal? These questions, and others like them, determine the truthfulness behind a doctor's claim far more than a display of textbooks or diplomas ever can.

Likewise, for those who claim to be Christians -- who have placed our trust solely in the word and work of Jesus Christ -- the genuineness of our claim will only be revealed in the manner we act and react to the circumstance of life. Do we rely on God in difficult times? Are we prepared to remain faithful to our Lord, even in the face of persecution and adversity? Do we put our own desires aside for the sake of our Father's will? It is these questions that determine the truthfulness of our claims.

When we live in way that honors God with our lives and not merely our lips, we not only set a much-needed example to those around us who have yet to accept Christ, but we also establish a powerful testimony of encouragement to our brothers and sisters in the adopted family of God. How many of us, when young in our faith, longed for earthly models we could pattern our lives after? What a blessing your life could be to a young Christian today if you would only seek to obey Christ above all else.

Can we, like Paul in his letter to Corinth, encourage others to look to our lives as a way of seeing the power of the risen Lord? Can we join with him and say: "Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ."