1 Thessalonians 4: Are You Walking Honestly Before God?
Verse of the Day: (V12) “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”

1. Honour (V1-5)
V1 “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”

Apostle Paul pleaded with the Thessalonians Christians to flee from immorality and vices that had not only caused God’s displeasure, but had ruined their reputation, and worse, they had become stumbling blocks to the world! God’s richest blessings shall be upon us only when we honour our bodies and are examples of honour and holiness to the world.

V4 “That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;”

2. Holiness (V6-9)
V7 “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Holiness is the trademark of God, and this is why the Spirit of God is also known as the Holy Spirit. For the Christian to be holy, he must strive to have the fruit of the Holy Spirit of love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance. Indeed, the holy God has called us unto holiness and to be His representatives of holiness!

V8 “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”

3. Honesty (V10-18)
V12 “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.”

Paul encouraged the believers to walk honestly before God so that the world could see God in all honour and holiness. The world’s motto is - We can do anything as long as we are not caught! However the world fails to realise that even though the law of the land may not catch and prosecute them, yet God is watching over them. One day the holy God shall judge the world, and only those who truly believe in Christ shall have everlasting life with Him in heaven. Those who reject Christ shall be condemned forever in fiery hell. Let us therefore as God’s saints walk in all honour, holiness and honesty before the Lord.

V17 “Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to walk in all honour, holiness and honesty before You.

1 Thessalonians 3: Are You Always Abounding In Love?
Verse of the Day: (V12) “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

1. Alone (V1-3)
V1 “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;”

Though Apostle Paul desired to stay with the Thessalonians Christians to continue to love, encourage, minister and ground them in God’s Word and work, yet he had to depart to Athens alone, because Satan persistently hindered him. However, God’s Word and work never cease as Paul sent another preacher, his spiritual son, Timotheus, to continue the preaching and teaching ministry to strengthen the faith of the Thessalonians Christians.

V2 “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:”

2. Affliction (V4-8)
V6 “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”

Paul and his fellow preachers were greatly comforted and encouraged when they heard from Timotheus that though the Thessalonians Christians were afflicted and persecuted because of their faith in Christ, yet they still rejoiced greatly in suffering for Christ’s sake. Indeed, our faith is tested to the fullest when we can still rejoice and trust God even though we are in the midst of great suffering and even impending death for Christ’s sake.

V7 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:”

3. Abound (V9-13)
V12 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

The main reason why Paul and his fellow Christians could endure intense suffering, persecution and even death was because God had richly blessed them with abounding and abundant love for others even their persecutors and enemies. Indeed, we shall be blameless and holy when God richly bless us with His abounding and abundant love!

V13 “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”

Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always be abounding in love for You and others.