Journey Through The Bible
   Old Testament Reading: Joel 1-3
   New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4

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. For you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2).

In the encouraging report Paul received, Timothy informed him that the Thessalonians were indeed following the instructions given to them on how you should live and please God (v1). Living the Christian life is often referred to by Paul as walking with God. In chapter 2, Paul wrote, we encouraged, comforted, and implored each one of you to walk worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory (v2:12).

The Christian life begins with a step of faith but doesn’t end there. That step of faith is to lead to a walk of faith. For we walk by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Walking suggests progress and we must make progress in our Christian life. Therefore, let us leave the elementary teaching about Christ and go on to maturity (Heb 6:1a).

Paul praised the Thessalonians for living to please God as you are doing, then encouraged them to do this even more (v1). No matter how long we have walked with God, we can always grow in faith and improve our Christian conduct. Paul wrote, Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus (Phil 3:13-14).

Paul informs the Thessalonians of two qualities of the Christian life. First, we should walk to please God. Pleasing God should be the major motive of the Christian life. Enoch walked with God, and by faith Enoch was taken away, and so he did not experience death. He was not to be found because God took him away. For before he was taken away, he was approved as one who pleased God (Heb 11:5).

Second, we should walk in obedience to God. Paul reminded the Believers in Thessalonica; you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus (v2). Before leaving the earth, Jesus told His apostles to make disciples, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you (Matt 28:20a).

Throughout the Bible, obedience to God’s Word is a major theme. When the prophet Samuel confronted King Saul for his disobedience, Samuel said: Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obeying the Lord? Look: to obey is better than sacrifice (1 Sam 15:22).

Nothing pleases God more than to see His children growing in their faith, walking in obedience to His Word.