As You Are doing – Do this Even More
Keep Going — and Then Go Further
SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 4:1 CSB - Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God -- as you are doing -- do this even more.
OBSERVATION:
The word "additionally" in the CSB is finally in the NKJV. This is not the closing of the letter but a transition from the greeting, prayer, and encouragement section. Paul used this word often. In some of his letters, he uses the word "finally" multiple times. It tells us that this is the heart of the letter.
Paul does just that. The heart of the letter is to keep going! Keep walking in the Lord! Keep allowing the Lord to sanctify you, to set you apart from the world we live in. This does not mean we are not part of it, but we should look and act differently. The world should see Jesus in us, not religious zealots who act holy with an attitude of self-righteousness, but as those who were once like them. The only difference between them and us is that we are sinners saved by grace. Still sinners (we will be until we see Jesus face to face), the only difference is that we have found forgiveness at the cross. God then begins to work in us – sanctify us. Paul says to the Thessalonians, and to you and me, “as you are doing -- do this even more.” God is working in you; let that continue. He is faithful to complete us. The question is, will we fight Him in the process?
APPLICATION:
Paul uses this phrase twice in this chapter. In it, he brings home three points.
First: Sexual Immorality (within marriage, adultery; outside of marriage, fornication). Immorality is the opposite of morality. The point is that anything outside of marriage, including adultery, is immoral and should be avoided.
The ancient writer Demosthenes expressed the generally amoral view of sex in the ancient Roman Empire: “We keep prostitutes for pleasure; we keep mistresses for the day-to-day needs of the body; we keep wives for the faithful guardianship of our homes.”
Though our world around us resembles ancient Roman society, we should be different.
Second: Brotherly love not just in morality, but in how we treat one another. We should know better! But do we? Let us love one another (and those outside) with brotherly love!
Third: Work and live a quiet life. Mind your own business, and don’t look to stir things up with others. Don’t be a “sin sniffer.” That means don’t point out others’ sins to make yourself look better. If you see someone caught in sin, first pray for them and ask God to open a door to encourage them to turn. Our job is to bring them to Christ, not to bring their sin to light so all can see.
Paul concludes this with the following words.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 CSB – so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.
We need to behave properly in the presence of outsiders. This means you and I need to be more like Jesus. People are watching. What are we portraying? We may be the only Jesus they see!
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me to do as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, “As you are doing – do this even more.” As I submit to You daily, will You sanctify me? May I be more like You so that I may “behave properly in the presence of outsiders.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1 CSB - Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God -- as you are doing -- do this even more.
OBSERVATION:
The word "additionally" in the CSB is finally in the NKJV. This is not the closing of the letter but a transition from the greeting, prayer, and encouragement section. Paul used this word often. In some of his letters, he uses the word "finally" multiple times. It tells us that this is the heart of the letter.
Paul does just that. The heart of the letter is to keep going! Keep walking in the Lord! Keep allowing the Lord to sanctify you, to set you apart from the world we live in. This does not mean we are not part of it, but we should look and act differently. The world should see Jesus in us, not religious zealots who act holy with an attitude of self-righteousness, but as those who were once like them. The only difference between them and us is that we are sinners saved by grace. Still sinners (we will be until we see Jesus face to face), the only difference is that we have found forgiveness at the cross. God then begins to work in us – sanctify us. Paul says to the Thessalonians, and to you and me, “as you are doing -- do this even more.” God is working in you; let that continue. He is faithful to complete us. The question is, will we fight Him in the process?
APPLICATION:
Paul uses this phrase twice in this chapter. In it, he brings home three points.
First: Sexual Immorality (within marriage, adultery; outside of marriage, fornication). Immorality is the opposite of morality. The point is that anything outside of marriage, including adultery, is immoral and should be avoided.
The ancient writer Demosthenes expressed the generally amoral view of sex in the ancient Roman Empire: “We keep prostitutes for pleasure; we keep mistresses for the day-to-day needs of the body; we keep wives for the faithful guardianship of our homes.”
Though our world around us resembles ancient Roman society, we should be different.
Second: Brotherly love not just in morality, but in how we treat one another. We should know better! But do we? Let us love one another (and those outside) with brotherly love!
Third: Work and live a quiet life. Mind your own business, and don’t look to stir things up with others. Don’t be a “sin sniffer.” That means don’t point out others’ sins to make yourself look better. If you see someone caught in sin, first pray for them and ask God to open a door to encourage them to turn. Our job is to bring them to Christ, not to bring their sin to light so all can see.
Paul concludes this with the following words.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 CSB – so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.
We need to behave properly in the presence of outsiders. This means you and I need to be more like Jesus. People are watching. What are we portraying? We may be the only Jesus they see!
PRAYER:
Jesus, help me to do as Paul encouraged the Thessalonians, “As you are doing – do this even more.” As I submit to You daily, will You sanctify me? May I be more like You so that I may “behave properly in the presence of outsiders.”
God is already at work in you, so don't coast and don't resist — cooperate with what He's doing and do it even more.
Posted in 13 - 1 Thessalonians
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