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1 Thessalonians 4  (ESV)

A Life Pleasing to God

¹ Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. ² For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. ³ For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; ⁴ that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, ⁵ not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; ⁶ that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. ⁷ For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. ⁸ Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

⁹ Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, ¹⁰ for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, ¹¹ and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, ¹² so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

 

Meditation

• Paul said that the Thessalonians knew how to live to please and serve God. And he went on to remind them the persons they were to be and the service they were called to render.
• Paul specifically mentioned avoiding sexual immorality. But Paul’s broader concern was for controlling all “passion of lust”. A passion for power, for money, for food, for approval and popularity can have just as destructive an impact on holiness as sexual passion.
• The call to holiness is a call to sever ties with sin and follow Christ in our daily life. As we go along our journey of following Jesus, we are called to seek after a life of holiness—one that is different than that of the world—and one that we can only live by God’s grace and Spirit at work within us.
• Take a moment to consider your surroundings, the competitive workplace, the stressful family life, or busy studies. Pray that the Holy Spirit work within you to teach and guide you and show you specific aspects of your life that you need to seek to live out a life of holiness in all areas of your being.