How can we live to please God as instructed in 1 Thessalonians 4:2? The Foundation: Christ’s Authority Behind Paul’s Instructions 1 Thessalonians 4:2: “For you know the instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.” • Paul is not offering suggestions; he is relaying commands that come straight from Jesus’ lordship. • Because Scripture is God-breathed (2 Timothy 3:16), these directives remain authoritative for every believer today. • Pleasing God, then, begins with a settled decision to receive apostolic teaching as the very words of Christ (see John 13:20). What Pleasing God Looks Like in Daily Life Verses 3-12 unpack the “instructions.” Notice how practical they are: • Sanctification—“For this is the will of God: your sanctification” (4:3). Our lives are set apart for Him. • Sexual purity—“abstain from sexual immorality” (4:3). God cares deeply about how we handle our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:18-20). • Self-control—“each of you must control his own body in holiness and honor” (4:4). • Brotherly love—“you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another” (4:9). • Quiet industry—“make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to attend to your own business, and to work with your hands” (4:11-12). Key Practices That Honor the Lord • Trust and obedience go together. “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6); true faith always acts (James 2:17). • Keep commandments because you love Christ (John 14:15). His love enables obedience (1 John 5:3-4). • Guard your mind and body. Flee anything that stirs impurity; pursue whatever fosters holiness (Philippians 4:8). • Invest in Christ-centered relationships. Encourage, forgive, serve, and give—love fulfills the law (Romans 13:10). • Work diligently. Honest labor supports your family, earns the respect of outsiders, and positions you to give (Ephesians 4:28). • Embrace a quiet spirit. Contentment and peace testify that Christ is enough (Philippians 4:11-13). Motivations That Keep Us on Track • God’s will: living this way is His explicit desire for us (1 Thessalonians 4:3). • God’s pleasure: “We make it our goal to please Him” (2 Corinthians 5:9). • God’s presence: “The Lord is an avenger” (1 Thessalonians 4:6) but also the One who empowers holy living (Philippians 2:13). • God’s promise: walking worthy results in reward and increasing joy (Colossians 3:23-24; John 15:11). A Lifestyle of Ongoing Growth • Start where you are—“just as you are living, do so more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:1). Spiritual progress, not perfection overnight, is the aim. • Rely on the Spirit daily (Galatians 5:16). He produces the character that delights the Father. • Saturate your mind with Scripture (Psalm 1:2). God’s Word renews attitudes and actions (Romans 12:1-2). • Stay connected to faithful believers (Hebrews 10:24-25). Shared encouragement keeps obedience fresh. Living to please God, then, is simply living under Jesus’ rightful authority with hearts eager to obey, hands committed to holiness, and lives shaped by love and quiet diligence—one step after another, “more and more,” until He returns. |
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