Good morning! There are many things in our society that prompt us to be controlled by it instead of us being self controlled and aligned with God’s will for our lives. Today, Apostle Paul will encourage/instruct the believers in Thessalonica to live holy and have self-control. Enjoy today’s devotion.

Bible verse – 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 NLT

“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 2 For you remember what we taught you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin. 4 Then each of you will control his own body and live in holiness and honor—  5 not in lustful passion like the pagans who do not know God and his ways. 6 Never harm or cheat a fellow believer in this matter by violating his wife, for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before.  7 God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.  8 Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.”

Reflection

In 1 Thessalonians chapters 4-5, Paul provides the believers further instruction on areas/gaps that were not taught or expanded on when Paul was physically with them. Paul, unable to travel to them opted to remind/inform them of areas that were lacking and provide spiritual guidance through his letter to them, which are now important writings in scripture.

Paul explained some of the obstacles the believers would encounter and be tempted by because of the culture/environment/community they lived in. According to some of my studies, the believers lived in a pagan environment filled with accepted sexual immorality by the people and in Greek worship. Paul, wanted to be clear that those practices did not represent Christ – God’s call for us to be set apart, to live holy, and to be self-controlled.

Sisters and brothers, we live in a similar culture – one that deems almost everything is ok or acceptable and it is not. We are challenged as believers to live lives that set us apart from the things that do not please God. We may not be able to escape the environment, but we can be the light in the darkness. As Paul mentioned, self-control is key to living in holiness and in honor.

Question to ponder:

Which area in your life requires more self-control?

Prayer

Father God, we thank you for another day and another opportunity to sing your praises. Thank you for sending Jesus to save us.You alone know the condition of our heartsand our thoughts.Lord, we desire to live a Holy life – a life that pleases you. Help us when we are tempted to do things that do not please you. Help us in every area of our lives that need more self-control. Help us to turn away/to be set apart, and be ok with not being accepted by others or the world when we elect to follow your will for our lives. Lord, give us courage and boldness to live for you. Help us to keep pushing forward in spiritual maturity and in our walk with you.

Lord, as the week comes to an end, we want to thank you for letting us see today. Lord, we don’t want to waste the air in our lungs or disregard our heart beating. Lord, use us today. Let us be your instruments. Help us to love and serve others. Give us strength to get through the difficult or good days ahead. Lord, help those who are suffering in pain. Lord, ease their pain. Lord, help those who are experiencing depression and remove that spirit of depression from them in Jesus name. Lord, continue to teach us to let go of things that keep us from growing spiritually and in the fullness of Your love.  Lord, we want to experience all that you have for us to do and be. Lord, continue to comfort those who are grieving. Lord, we pray for favor in the workplace and we ask that you continue to shine your light on our places of work. Lord, bind the hostile work environments and do not let them flourish. Lord, help those who are having difficulty with staff and co-workers or with their bosses. Lord, give them wisdom and discernment to work through the barriers they are facing. Lord, continue to protect all the innocent children from harmful. Provide for the widow, the orphan, and those who are struggling to make ends meet. Lord, keep doing your mighty work.
In Jesus name, amen.

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