¹⁰You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers …

Statement of fact with implied charge, Paul reminds the Thessalonian believers that they were eyewitnesses of his behavior. This takes on an interesting hue in light of his present experience; Paul had many detractors in Corinth, from where he was writing. So he calls on his Thessalonian readers to be his character witnesses that he practiced what he preached, no question about it. Let it be known.

He speaks of his own character, in particular, that he behaved devoutly, uprightly, and blamelessly. Interestingly, this description reflects in part the picture of spiritual maturity expected of biblical eldership. Paul writes to Titus,

For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled … (Titus 1:7–8).

To be above reproach can only happen when a person is blameless. This is not an academic theory to be diced in theological debates. It is the reality of a life well lived, one dedicated to imitating Jesus Christ. He knew that in order to present himself as a model to follow that would point people toward the Lord, he would have to live the life himself.

Yet we must be careful not to assign a motive that is misplaced. His reason for living a devout, upright, and blameless life was not so that he could be a model. He lived that way because that was who he had become in Christ. He had not always been that way. He had become new and different (see 2 Cor. 5:17), authentically Christ-like. So he points the Thessalonian believers to the reality of his new life. Yet his was not out of pride or arrogance—he knew he was like that because of God’s grace. That gives us all hope of Christlikeness.

If we follow Paul’s example, as he desires us to do, then we also should recognize Christlikeness in ourselves, as a result of God’s grace. We should be able to point to evidence of the new life, things which we don’t come by naturally, but which God has been gracious to work in our lives. Yes, one of the most basic evidences of the new life in Christ is our changed behavior, our unnatural behavior, which is in reality supernatural and comes from God’s doing. To use Paul’s words, our changed behavior toward others shows when we act devoutly, uprightly, and blameless toward others.

Lord, help me behave consistently with the new life You’ve given me in Christ.