Don't Make News!

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Living to Please God

1 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 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. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.

9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

11 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, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

(read commentary here)

Bee's Thoughts:

How may I please God?

1. "avoid sexual immorality" -- a serious reminder to be "pure" in our life, respecting our own bodies and that of others

2. "love each other" -- to love more and more, we can never love too much

3. "lead a quiet life" -- be restful and peaceful with God and others

4. "mind your own business" -- do what we have to do, to make sure we are right with God first so we can help others later

5. "work with your hands" -- don't be lazy, work for our living


Thank you, Lord, for showing me how I may please you in my life. I know I am not perfect, but I am willing to learn to be more like Jesus day by day. Help me to be holy as you are holy. Amen.