Authentic Christian Living
Living to Please God
1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Tommy's Thoughts:
The apostle Paul reminds us to change our attitude; a right and authentic attitude that please God. Paul pleas to the believer to continuously do what they already know to be the right thing to do. To be more like Christ everyday until we become complete when He returns.
Thank you Lord for giving me the strength to abstain and cut away anything that leads to sexual immorality. Thank you for providing me the spiritual emergency exit signs whenever I wanted so much to take control of my body and mind; to keep it pure and to bring honor and glory to You. Thank you Lord also for reminding me to show genuine “brotherly love” to other believers. I will also not to be an idler, but to do my work diligently with integrity; as a witness of Christ in homes, workplace and wherever I go.
.......the devotion of Tommy
