1 THESSALONIANS 4:1 – Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.”
THEME OF THE DAY: A LIFE HONORING AND PLEASING TO THE LORD. They are the heartbeats in every child of God; to live a life that honors and pleases the Lord. And such a life doesn’t just happen. Oh, I wish, and you do too, there was a “spiritual vitamin” or “spiritual cruise control button” that would just put us on easy street of living such a life! No, it requires work, hard work, and primarily the hard work in three areas – self-control, self-denial, and self-discipline. Without this triad of exercises in our lives, no growth in Christ and no life of honoring and pleasing the Lord.
A good place to start is recognizing the “problem areas” that keep us from such a life. To help us, meditate on this insightful devotional from an English pastor of the 19th century names James Smith. He was well-known for his godliness and excellent writings. Listen to Pastor Smith as he reveals easily tolerated things in our lives that prevent a life pleasing to the Lord . . .
“We dishonor the Lord by our fretfulness (worry and anxiety) under trials and troubles; by our murmuring (complaining) when all is not as we wish; by impatience to be delivered from pain; by our unbelief in reference to His promises and providence; by our unthankfulness for the many mercies we receive; by limiting His power or His goodness; by omitting duties (obedience to commands); by lack of love or zeal; by relying on our services (efforts) instead of free grace; and by looking to others, instead of looking only and always to Him for all. Dishonoring Jesus must be a great sin; it produces deadness, darkness, and misery; let us realize its criminality, lament it before God, seek repentance for it and forgiveness of it. O let us aim to honor Jesus by gratitude, patience, faith, love, forbearance, zeal, and by constantly aiming at His glory.”
Such truth from another century is relevant in our lives today. It is captured well from the pen of the Apostle Paul in two places – So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31) and And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him (Colossians 3:17). May both also capture our hearts and minds leading to a life honoring and pleasing to the Lord!
PRAYER: “Father, help me to always remember I represent You in every situation in life.”
QUOTE: “To please the Lord we must be close to the Lord and that through prayer, His Word, and obedience.”
In the affection of Christ Jesus,
Pastor Jim