SCRIPTURE: 1 THESSALONIANS 4
MEMORY VERSE:
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12)
LIVING TO PLEASE GOD (vs. 1-12)
- You should avoid sexual immorality. (v. 3)
- You should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen. (v. 4-5)
- Do not wrong your brother or take advantage of him. (v. 6)
- Live a holy life. (v. 7)
- Love each other. (v. 9)
- Lead a quiet life. (v. 11a)
- Mind your own business. (v. 11b)
- Work with your own hands. (v. 11c)
THE COMING OF THE LORD (vs. 13-18)
Jesus died and rose again. God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. We who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. The Lord will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
THOUGHTS:
Paul asked and urged the Thessalonians to do the following things more and more:
- More holy and sanctified life. (v. 7)
- More brotherly love. (v. 9)
- More quiet life and industrious hands. (v. 11)
- More hope for Christ’s second coming. (v. 13)
Sexual desires and activities must be placed under Christ’s control. God created sex for procreation and pleasure and as an expression of love between a husband and wife. Sexual experiences must be limited to the marriage relationship to avoid hurting ourselves, our relationship to God and our relationships with others.
The Thessalonian Christian had adopted a life of idleness. Paul told them to work hard and live a quiet life so that unbelievers will respect them. It won’t be effective to share the gospel with others if they don’t respect you.
Paul wrote to comfort and encourage believers who had lost their loved ones. He wanted them to understand that death is not the end of everything. When Christ returns, all believers – dead and alive will be reunited and never to suffer or die again. All Christians, including those living when Christ returns, will live with Christ forever. We should also comfort and reassure each other with this great hope that all believers throughout history will stand reunited in God’s very presence, safe and secure.