SCRIPTURE:
4 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.
9 Now about your love for one another 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 of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,
1 Thessalonians 4:4, 9-10
OBSERVATION:
The present state of the Thessalonians seemed all good. Paul encourages them by commending them for living in order to please God and for loving each other as they’ve been taught by God. He tags each commendation with 3 words, “more and more.”
Paul’s writing to the Thessalonians but he could’ve been as well writing to me. I’m doing my best to get it right, to live in a way that pleases God and to love His people. I hear messages of love and righteousness and only half-heartedly pay attention cause I’ve heard it a million times and the millionth and one time just doesn’t have the same impact. Except now, when Paul reminds me to do so more and more.
APPLICATION:
While I wake every morning with an abundance of grace and genuine love, the truth is that as each minute passes a little bit of the hope for the day fades with the time. While my intent is to live a life in order to please God and love His people, the reality is it’s hard for me.
It’s hard to offer grace time and time again, even though I’ve been given grace in overflowing abundance. Instead of heeding Paul’s words and give more and more, I’d much rather shout for the mountain tops “enough is enough.” Many times I don’t want to give more, repeat offenders will only repeatedly offend. I would much rather operate with a strike system where you get only 3, after that you’re out.
But Jesus doesn’t work that way…thank God or I would’ve been done a long time ago. God offers grace that although I’m a sinner He found me worthy to die for. If I needed any motivation that in itself is enough.
If my life is to be genuine at all, if my attempt at Christ-likeness is of any worth, I need to take Paul’s words to heart and go the 2nd mile, offer 70 times 7 and love God and His people more and more.
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for loving me with a grace that never runs dry. Forgive me for the times I grow weary in loving others and quick to withhold the same mercy You freely give me. Help me to go the extra mile, forgive freely, and love others the way You have loved me, more and more. Amen
