Encouragement: A Study in 1 ThessaloniansSample

What does it say?

Paul discussed the glorious rapture of the church to encourage the Thessalonians to live their lives to please God as they awaited His return.

What does it mean?

The Thessalonian believers lived in a pagan society that did not have high moral standards. For the Christian, God’s will is clear – be holy. To be holy requires a clean cut with sexual immorality. Living a holy life involves a change in thinking and behavior – it’s walking by faith – believing and doing what God says in Scripture. God has given every Christian His Holy Spirit, who gives the power to live a pure life that pleases Him. Paul’s fervency urged them to take already holy, loving, and respectful lives to a new level – desiring those qualities more and more.

How should I respond?

We, too, live in a society with low moral standards. Sexual immorality permeates our culture through movies, television, and social media. The way for believers to live a holy life separated from sin and separated to God is found in the Word of God. As you read and meditate on Scripture, the Holy Spirit renews your thinking. Do your entertainment choices reflect God’s standards? In what area do you need to act in faith and obey God? As you anticipate Christ’s return, don’t be satisfied with your current spiritual level of maturity. Instead, desire to please the Lord more and more each day until He returns.