READING: Proverbs 29-31, 1 Thessalonians 4
Sometimes it’s easy to settle into routine in our Christian walk. I suspect that as we get older and learn to flee youthful temptations and lusts, it’s easier to claim victory and not worry so much about continual growth. After all, we’re more faithful than we’ve ever been, right? That’s when our “faithfulness” becomes stagnation—which might also be defined as “decline.”
Paul continually pushed the Thessalonians so they would not get comfortable in their own walk. He knew they were striving to please the Lord, but he nevertheless reminded them to keep pressing forward. It may well have been that the apostle was aware that the Thessalonians – like all of us – might at times have been tempted to fall back into their old ways; thus, he challenged them to keep growing even more:
- “Additionally then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, that as you have received instruction from us on how you should live and please God—as you are doing—do this even more.” (1 Thess 4:1, emphasis added)
- “About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more . . . .” (1 Thess 4:9-10, emphasis added)
Even more – that’s a great challenge for us today. Follow God even more. Live a pure life even more. Be obedient even more. Honor others even more. Witness even more. Every day we walk with God ought to increase our love for Him. Even more. . . .
PRAYER: “Help me, God, to follow You even more today and throughout this week to come.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Song of Solomon 1-3, Psalm 72, 1 Thessalonians 5
