READING: Isaiah 47-49, 1 Thessalonians 4
“. . . just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”
1 Thessalonians 4:1
Complacency can become a real enemy to the Christian life. We receive our salvation with great joy, and we serve God with an early zeal. Somehow, though, most of us settle down into the “norm” – which usually means mediocrity and lukewarmness. It’s then that another brother or sister in Christ often has to pursue us, challenge us, and try to light the fire under us again. Far too many believers don’t have that person in their lives, and mediocrity remains the norm. Sometimes they no longer even recognize what they’re missing because it’s been a long time since anyone provoked them to good works.
The Thessalonians, on the other hand, had the Apostle Paul and his letters to push them forward in their walk with Christ. The young church there was doing fairly well, and they were walking with God like Paul had taught them. Nevertheless, one of his goals in this letter was to encourage them to continue to “walk and please God”; in fact, he wanted them to “do so more and more” (1 Thess. 4:1). They were already moving in the right direction, but they still had room to grow. They were particularly to “love one another . . . more and more” (1 Thess. 4:10) even though they were already exhibiting brotherly love. So strongly did Paul want them to keep pressing on and growing that he urged them with seemingly great passion – with the heart of a father who wanted his children to keep doing well.
We know that backslidden believers need someone to admonish and urge them toward faithfulness, but so do faithful, committed believers. Those believers striving for godliness still need someone who continually says to them, “I thank God that you’ve been following Christ faithfully – but I urge you to do it more and more.” Perhaps all of us would be less inclined to “settle down” if someone kept exhorting us in faithfulness.
ACTION STEPS:
- Urge someone toward continued faithfulness today.
- Ask God to give you someone who will keep encouraging you as well.
PRAYER: “Thank You, Father, for those who urge me to stay faithful. Help me to encourage someone else today.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Isaiah 50-52, 1 Thessalonians 5