A good name is more desirable than great riches. To be esteemed is better than silver or gold….Let your gentleness be evident to all. [This means our graciousness, considerateness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience.] The Lord is near and coming soon…..An elder and all Christians must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that we will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap….Think about and practice whatever is admirable (Proverbs 22:1; Philippians 4:5; 1 Timothy 3:7; Philippians 4:8-9)
The Growth of Christianity
After Jesus’ Ascension and before Pentecost, a group of 120 believers gathered for prayer near Jerusalem.1 By the year 300 AD, about 10 percent of people in the Roman Empire were Christians. By 350, there may have been 33 million Christians in an empire of 60 million. Before Constantine legalized Christianity in 313, Christ’s followers suffered ruthless persecution. Believers were often punished by torture, death, and social humiliation.2 By God’s grace, they persevered in trusting Jesus and faithfulness to Him in spite of much opposition, and the Lord grew His Church.
Imitation Is the Highest Form of Compliment
Julian (331-363 AD) was a Roman emperor. He tried to stop the growth of Christianity, but realized that only the Christians were helping people in need.
Julian wrote: We (pagans) ought to share our money with all kinds of people, especially with the helpless and poor. We should share our clothes and food even with the wicked, because we value their humanity. We ought to help even those in prison, since this kind of generosity will not hinder justice. It is disgraceful that the Galileans (Christians) support not only their own poor, but ours as well. Everyone sees that our people lack aid from us.3
Jesus Christ said: “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”4 Jesus’ disciples followed in His footsteps and this attracted others to Christ the Lord. We can have the same impact for Jesus today!
Admirable Thinking and Living
The Greek word here is euphēma and it only appears here in the New Testament. It means being commendable, helpful, and reputable. To explain this virtue, I draw from the New Testament letter of James, which speaks of qualities which made even unbelievers notice the character of Christ’s followers.
Being Admirable Includes Resilience
James 1:2-4 says: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The early Christians faced unspeakable stressors. Perpetua (180-203 AD), was 22 at the time of her martyrdom, married with an infant child, and well-educated. Perpetua, Felicitas (her servant), and other new believers were jailed and sentenced to die. Perpetua kept a journal, documenting the Lord’s care for her in prison, just as the Lord sustained Joseph in Bible times.5 In that depressing place, she enjoyed sweet spiritual fellowship with the Risen Jesus and His people. She learned to be content in Christ, even in the worst circumstances.
Perpetua refused to deny Jesus as her Lord and Savior. On the evening before their martyrdom, she and the other believers celebrated the Lord’s Supper, focusing on Christ’s historic death and resurrection for them, His present upholding them, and their future home with Jesus in glory. Then, by the Holy Spirit’s strengthening, Perpetua approached the arena singing Psalms . She died, trusting Christ, even as the crowds mocked her and her fellow believers. Perpetua and Felicitas were beheaded and the others were killed by wild dogs.
Unbelievers were amazed that early Christian trusted Jesus, even unto death, and some became believers themselves. Our troubles may not be so severe, but we can learn not to be anxious, depressed, negative, or complaining. We must learn to trust that God is at work in our lives and in His world to mature and polish us in Christ-likeness. He will bring all His plans to completion.
Being Admirable Includes Empathy for Others
James 1:27, 2:8 says: Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world….If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.
I’ve already mentioned how Emperor Julian noticed how Christians focused on the needs of others. Immature people are self-focused. But Jesus said: “Whatever you do for the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” Christ will judge us for how we treat others, not by how often we attend church or how many Scriptures we memorize, good as those things are. Jesus calls us to feed the hungry, quench the thirst of thirsty ones, invite in strangers, clothe those who need it, look after the sick, and visit prisoners.6 When we do these things, we point others to Christ our Savior.
Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to You.
Take my moments and my days. Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Being Admirable Includes Managing our Mouths
James 1:26, 3:9-10 says: Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless….With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. This should not be.
All the Scriptures teach us to build each other up with our words, not tear people down. We must not let any unwholesome talk come out of our mouths. God says: A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger….The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit….Those who guard their mouths keep themselves from calamity.7
Our physical tongues are barometers of our physical health. That’s why doctors look at them. An unhealthy tongue can signal poor diet or digestion, dehydration, vitamin deficiency, or diseases like diabetes. Scripture teaches that what we say and how we say it reveals our spiritual health too.
Being Admirable Includes Peacemaking, Not a Troublemaking
James 4:1 says: Fights and quarrels come from our desires that battle within us. Galatians 5:19-21 says: The acts of the flesh include hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy….I warn you, that those who live like this without repenting will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Tertullian of Northern Africa (160-240 AD) says that unbelievers were impressed that Jesus’ followers loved each other deeply from the heart, and were even ready even to die for one another. He said that non-Christians hated each other.8
Conflict is a sign of immaturity among Christ’s people and pride keeps us from admitting we’re wrong and making amends. But Jesus says: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.”9
Prayer
Holy Spirit, finish Your new creation in us. Restore us and make us pure and spotless. Make us strong, firm, and steadfast in Christ. Make us more and more like Jesus and change us into His glorious image, until in heaven we take our place with Him. Sanctify us every day until we cast our crowns before You, lost in wonder, love, and praise.10
Notes: 1 Acts 1:15. 2 Ann Arbor Public Schools (a2schools.org). 3 Adapted from hillsidemedford.org, “Transforming Love,” and Julian’s essay, “Against the Galileans.” 4 Luke 4:17-19, quoting Isaiah 61:1-2, 58:6. 5 Gen 39:2–23. 6 Matt 25:31-46. 7 1 Thes 5:11; Eph 4:29; Prov 15:1,4, 21:23. 8 Adapted from The Apology, chapter 39. 9 Matt 5:9. 10 Prayer adapted from Charles Wesley’s hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling.”