A Life Pleasing to God

"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" (1 Thes. 4:1).

In 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12, Paul sets forth a description of the kind of life God would have us to live.  The key to living a life pleasing to God is faith in Jesus Christ.  Obedience to the teachings of Christ mark his followers, as does growth in grace and knowledge.

God's will for us is that we be sanctified.  That is to say, we are to live a holy life.  Paul expresses this by warning against sexually immorality, urging self-control, and reminding us not to defraud our neighbors. These behaviors will be punished by God.  We should seek, therefore, to live apart from the world.  Failure to obey the Word is failure to obey the Lord.

A life of faith is also a life of love.  Paul urged his friends to continue on in the love of the Lord.  They had quickly learned the art of loving like God, and they mastered it well.  Paul encouraged them to continue to increase their love for others.

Finally, he urged believers to "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your hands" (1 Thes. 4:11).  There is an old saying, "Bloom where you are planted."  This saying captures the essences of Paul's encouragement.  We are called to show forth God's glory where we are.

There are several implications of this passage, we will look at four of them:

1. These commands are God's commands bearing the full weight of his authority.

2. God desires that we be holy.  He not only desires it, he commands it.

3. We ignore these commands at our own peril.

4. The quiet life is a good life.