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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
As we move on to I Thessalonians Chapter 4 – Paul is asking and urging or beseeching or pleading – and whenever Paul speaks like this he normally has something significantly important to say.
He had taught these believers in Jesus how to walk with God and how to live for God in that brief spell he had with those who came to faith in Jesus Christ – and now he is asking them to go further.
He wants them to walk with God – to make progress – to have movement forward towards a goal. He had instructed these disciples of Jesus how to live and walk in a way that would please God - now he is encouraging them to go deeper and leave ‘the shallow end’.
Our lives should be becoming more and more in tune with the Will of God. It must never be – what I want to do – but what His will for me is.
Paul’s feet were firmly planted on spiritual ground. You are doing fine. Now go further – walk and serve with purpose and make your life count for God.
Verse 2 – You know what we taught you – you know the instructions or commandments we passed on to you. What he had received from Jesus Christ he passed on and taught and shared.
Verse 3 – These spoke of the will of God – and he is returning to this theme of being holy. If a man wants to know something of God’s will and something more of God’s will, this is how to discover what God’s will is for your life.
The commandments will guide you in the Will of God and they will help you to become holy and enable you to become holy.
Paul is always looking for growth and development in individuals and in fellowships – and throughout the whole Church of Jesus Christ.
Continue to grow. Continue to make steady progress. Walk humbly but confidently, in uncertain times.
Our conscience is never enough. We need something more. We need the Word of God. Man has always needed this Word. Jesus made that so clear too.
Discipleship and holiness are not optional extras. Paul was never satisfied with converts. He sought to make disciples.
He points them to high moral standards and values. His desire is to produce disciples with character.
The ambitions and desires of society can colour our thinking and cause us to compromise. We need the Word of God to live straight. The task of the Church of Jesus Christ is to line people up with God’s Word.
Avoid – or abstain from – sexual impurity and immorality. The word means ‘make a clear break’ from that way of living.
Paul is teaching us about walking in innocence and purity – this is not thought much of by the world in these current times
God is more interested in your character than your career – more interested in your progress than your popularity.
“Loving Father – we see in the Scriptures that there is always so much more – show me where You wish me to serve – and how You want me to serve. As I feed upon Your Word day by day – as I read the Bible – speak with me – speak to me – through the sacred page – and open me more and more to the wonders of Your grace and love and blessing – through Jesus. Amen”
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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