Monday
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, 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 Thessalonians 4:1
Through scripture and the example of Christ we are given everything we need in order to live a life that brings honour and glory to God. I am sure many of us work hard to live this way but as Paul reminds the church in Thessalonica there is always more, we can and should do. Let us praise God for the pattern of living he gives us and ask for the strength to live in that way.
Tuesday
It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 1 Thessalonians 4:3
We are intended to be sanctified but what does that mean. It means to be like Christ and it is a process, it is something we work at every day and we do not do this on our own but with the help of the Holy Spirit. Let us praise God that we are justified (made right with God) through his work and he equips us to be sanctified (more like Christ).
Wednesday
that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honourable, 1 Thessalonians 4:4
In a world that is full of temptation and that has declared so much to be acceptable, it is important for us to exercise restraint and not succumb to temptation to follow worldly ways. This was true at the time of Paul and it is perhaps even more true today. Our body is a temple for the Lord let us pray that we would treat it as such.
Thursday
For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 1 Thessalonians 4:7
God has given us the mean to live lives that echo the life of Christ. While we might not ever achieve such perfection, we are expected to strive for it. We do so in order to please God, knowing at the same time it is also for our benefit. Let us praise God for calling us as his chosen children and giving us all we need to live for his Glory.
Friday
Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. 1 Thessalonians 4:8
How we live says a lot about our relationship with God. It is also a powerful witness to those around us. To live the perfect life of Christ is certainly too much for us, but as I mentioned earlier, we do not do it on our own but with the gift of God’s Holy Spirit urging us on and showing us the way. Let us pray that we would be always seeking to live for God.
Saturday
And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 1 Thessalonians 4:10
Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonian believers are to be commended in the way they are living, and the love they are showing to their community, as I am sure are many of you, but we can, and should be doing more. We must never be complacent with how we live and our relationship with the Lord. Let us pray that we could have the courage and drive to strive to be more and more like Christ each day.
Sunday
so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. 1 Thessalonians 4:12
We come together in praise and worship with the reminder that we are solely dependent on God. We are also reminded that our real praise of God is not in the songs we sing or the prayers we offer but in how we live the precious gift of life God has given to us. Let us praise the Lord of life and determine to live for his glory and the building of his kingdom.
Church services will be held at Blackfriars Theatre, Boston from 2nd - 7th Decemaber - click here for details