March 12 - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

March 12 - 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

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. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 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. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Our lives are in constant motion, always trying to be better at what we do.  A musician practices in order to achieve greater skill; an athlete trains. Each skill we have requires us to continually find ways to make ourselves better so we grow.

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to do the same thing in their Christian lives.  They have to grow, to keep taking the next steps.  What they are doing is good, but he exhorts them to do so more and more.

Because our lives as Christians are spent in community with others, increasing our commitment to Christian living is even more important.  We have a responsibility not only to ourselves, but to others, because so often if we mess things up in our personal lives, it affects someone else.  But there is one more that we need to be aware of within that community. When we refuse to become better people and live in sin, Paul reminds us that we are also disregarding God.

He tells the Thessalonians that their actions hurt themselves, each other and their relationship with God.  This relationship was precious to them. Would they listen?