Daily Bread 2010 - 1 Thessalonians 4
Living to Please God
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
As Paul continues his exhortation to the believers in Thessalonica, he urges them to please God more and more. He acknowledges that there is always room to grow as a believer. None of us have arrived yet. The moment we think there is no room left for us to grow spiritually, we are in a precarious position.
Of course, like any society, sexuality was a leading cause of stumbling back into old habits and patterns. Because of the power of our sexual drive it can be a cause of much struggle in a believer’s life. Paul makes it clear that being sexually pure is a part of how we are set apart as God’s people. Not the only way to be sure, but an important one. He also uses this example as a way to distinguish someone who has learned self control as opposed to someone who is a slave to their desires. When Christians act in the same way as those who have no control in the sexual arena, it would suggest we don’t know God, or at the very least are not acting in His power.
Paul gives strong instruction on this matter because he knew the damage it could cause to the Christian community. In fact, in verse 6, he mentions it in connection to wronging a brother, or taking advantage of him. When the trust of marriage is broken through adultery, there is much damage done to all parties involved.
While this is certainly not a salvation issue, it is an issue that is important to our community. We see today all of the confusion around sexuality in our culture and especially for our youth, as society has called okay what the bible calls a sin. As we exercise self control with our bodies in general, and with regard to sexuality, in particular, it will be a sign of how God has set apart as His special people to show His power to change a human life.
Jesus, help us to more and more exhibit self control by the power of Your Spirit working in and through us. Thank you for the gift our sexuality and may we remember the context in which you have blessed its use in marriage. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
1Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
As Paul continues his exhortation to the believers in Thessalonica, he urges them to please God more and more. He acknowledges that there is always room to grow as a believer. None of us have arrived yet. The moment we think there is no room left for us to grow spiritually, we are in a precarious position.
Of course, like any society, sexuality was a leading cause of stumbling back into old habits and patterns. Because of the power of our sexual drive it can be a cause of much struggle in a believer’s life. Paul makes it clear that being sexually pure is a part of how we are set apart as God’s people. Not the only way to be sure, but an important one. He also uses this example as a way to distinguish someone who has learned self control as opposed to someone who is a slave to their desires. When Christians act in the same way as those who have no control in the sexual arena, it would suggest we don’t know God, or at the very least are not acting in His power.
Paul gives strong instruction on this matter because he knew the damage it could cause to the Christian community. In fact, in verse 6, he mentions it in connection to wronging a brother, or taking advantage of him. When the trust of marriage is broken through adultery, there is much damage done to all parties involved.
While this is certainly not a salvation issue, it is an issue that is important to our community. We see today all of the confusion around sexuality in our culture and especially for our youth, as society has called okay what the bible calls a sin. As we exercise self control with our bodies in general, and with regard to sexuality, in particular, it will be a sign of how God has set apart as His special people to show His power to change a human life.
Jesus, help us to more and more exhibit self control by the power of Your Spirit working in and through us. Thank you for the gift our sexuality and may we remember the context in which you have blessed its use in marriage. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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