Seventh Day Baptist
Christian Education Council
PO BOX 1678
Janesville, WI 53547
Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
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. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
(ESV)
—1 Thessalonians 3:11-4:8
by: Paula Davis.
I can see how the things Paul says first in this passage give believers the power to accomplish the rest. God calls us to be pure and to live a holy life. On our own, this is impossible. But as the Lord strengthens our hearts and makes our love for others increase, we are able to follow the instructions God gives us and avoid things that are not of Him! God gives us His Holy Spirit in order to provide us with the power to overcome. Every day, we have a choice to either draw on that power or reject it and go our own way. Our choice determines the outcome.
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