Saturday, June 16: 1Thessalonians 4 - Do this more and more.

Never arriving, always growing…

I was struck by the twice used “do this more and more” phrase.

Finally, 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. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and 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. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.  And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more. Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

There are always areas of our Christ-life in which we can and should grow. Even though the Thessalonians are growing, Paul points out new areas…

I paused to think what areas God is leading me to further growth. Where is God leading you to grow?

We never arrive.  We can always be growing.

Lord, show me areas where I need to apply myself to deepen my faith and improve my living, so that my life and reflects You, Jesus, better and better. In Your name, I pray. Amen.