Today we move on in our study of 1st Thessalonians to chapter 4. As I read this chapter I found it addresses two basic areas of life: the routine, normal challenges of life and special challenges of life. Let’s begin by studying the routine, normal challenges of life found in verses 1-12.
When I read these verses I was struck by two impact statements. Do you ever find when you’re reading in your Bible a statement seems to jump out and grab your attention? I keep my eyes open for such statements. When I find one in my reading I stop and reflect on it. I ask, “Why did this statement grab me? What might God want to say to me?” It’s important when doing this, that you not limit your reflection to the statement alone.
After you think you’ve grasped what it says, go back and reread the context around the statement. If you feel the context supports what you understood the statement to mean, prayerfully apply it to your life. That’s what I call an impact statement.
In chapter 4 the two impact statements I noticed were in verse 1, “Live in such a way as to please God,” and in verse 12, “So that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders.” In the normal, routine challenges of life we should endeavor to live in a way that God will be pleased and the outside world will respect. Let’s find out how to do this by continuing this study in our next visit.
