The Christian life is most often compared to a walk. It begins with a step of faith. That first step leads to a walk of faith. Walking suggests progress, and we must make progress in the Christian life. Walking also demands strength.
As believers, we must be sure to walk in the light for the enemy has put traps and detours to catch us. Of course, at the end of life’s walk, we will step into the very presence of the Lord. There are many professors of faith, but far fewer actual possessors of faith. I believe this is not something we as Christ's church, should take lightly or without consideration. As the children of God, we have a responsibility, an obligation to present ourselves pleasing unto the Lord every day and in every circumstance.
Let us bow our heads.
Heavenly Father,
Today's Message: Love Of The Brethren
As I studied these verses, preparing for our message, I discovered a living, practical faith hits the streets in normal, everyday life, affecting everything from believers' simplest attitudes and most mundane actions to their profoundest thoughts and noblest deeds. A faith that isn’t kept in secret or only displayed on Sunday's or special services, but faith that is worn every day, before the world, and publicly displayed.
I realize that this is a topic we have dealt with quite extensively, as we have moved
through this blessed book verse by verse. And, perhaps some might think that it is a
bit redundant, however, I am thoroughly convinced that we all need daily reminders and challenges
to present ourselves in a way that pleases the Lord. Only Christianity has the power to transform a life, so that what we believe can literally become the way we live. I believe that inward transformation should be outwardly obvious!
The moral climate in the Roman Empire was not healthy. Immorality was a way of life; and, thanks to slavery, people had the leisure time to indulge in the latest pleasures. The Christian message of holy living was new to that culture, and it was not easy for these young believers to fight the temptations around them. Paul gave three reasons why they should live a holy life.The Apostle Paul describes a threefold walk for the Christian to follow.
In verse 9, Paul says "Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;"One of the best ways to avoid sexual immorality is to look at members of the opposite sex who know Jesus as brothers and sisters in Christ. We can demonstrate real love by treating each other as family. Believers are not sex objects, but objects of the Savior’s love. We are called to do whatever we can to build believers up in their faith, by loving them as much as God loves us. Guys, when you look at a Christian fox, you are looking at your sister in Christ. Girls, when you gaze at a holy hunk, he is first and foremost your fellow family member.
Paul devoted a great deal of his letter to the theme of sexual purity, because it was a critical problem in the church of that day. And, it is certainly a very critical issue in the church today. For many people, marriage vows are no longer considered sacred, and divorce is no longer governed by the Word of God.
Many times, in Scripture we find the word love translated from the Greek word "agapē", God’s love. Certainly, we ought to desire to love as God loves, without boundaries or preconceived expectations, but this speaks of another type of love in which we are responsible. The phrase brotherly love is translated from the Greek word philadelphos, and yes that is where our American city got its name, the city of brotherly love. This is love that binds our hearts together; develops a deep affection for and commitment to each other; it moves us to act on behalf of the welfare and needs of others.
They really didn’t need such a reminder, but Paul instructs them again anyway. He declares that even if he failed to encourage their love for one another, God Himself teaches us that we ought to love each other.
We are well aware of that. We know that our Lord declared that love for others was the greatest commandment. However, it doesn’t hurt to be reminded and challenged concerning our love for one another.
We need to love one another in order to provide strength and stability as we live among this sinful world. We need that love to keep our fellowship strong and to prevent division among the church. A loving church is a strong church. People that are loved and encouraged are less likely to stumble and fall, yielding to temptation. Let us love one another as God demands.
The Apostle Paul was not inspired of the Holy Spirit to pen these words simply just so the Thessalonian believers would have something to read. Paul penned these words for their instruction and exhortation. Paul, and the Lord, fully expected them to continue to grow in their love for one another. He expected them to feel the pain of others; he expected them to care for one another and come alongside the weak and needy.This word was given first to the Thessalonian church, but it is here for our admonition as well. Beloved, we too are obligated and expected to love one another!
Verse 10 challenges us to not ever slow down in our love. We might be doing OK, but it’s always short of where we should be. In the area of love, we can never sit back and feel like we’ve done enough.
"for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more"
As Paul examined the church there, he realized their love was not reserved or circumstantial. Their love was not offered only to those who were in their immediate circle of influence. They weren’t guilty of loving only those whom they were acquainted with or those who held their particular view. The church there loved all the brethren throughout Macedonia. They simply loved the church, whether they worshiped together or not. They were concerned about the well-being and prosperity of all believers!
I believe that what we need in our day. I know we live in a body of flesh that is prone to hurt feelings and anger. I am well aware there are those who seem a bit harder to love than others, but we are not called to love those whom we choose. We are called to love all the brethren, even those with whom we may disagree from time to time. Everyone may not see things just as we see them; they may not worship or minister exactly as we do, but we are obligated to love them and seek their good anyway. Because Christians belong to the same family, we all have the same Father.
In John 13:34 Jesus teaches us, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another."
Paul was pleased with the love they had shown, but he prayed for their love to increase more and more. They loved one another in a way that was pleasing to the Lord, but even then, there was room for improvement. The word increase has the idea of "exceeding a fixed measure, to abound and overflow."
Verses 11 and 12, " and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need."
Dealing with the display of our faith, Paul now shifts his focus from the love we show to the lives we live. He speaks of several areas in which we are to reflect the Lord through our faith. We must reflect Christ in our lives. What a profound statement Paul makes to the church. He instructs them to be wise in their lives. hey were to strive to lead a peaceable and quiet life, not running here and there stirring up gossip and strife, but holding their peace and minding their own business.
One of the greatest hindrances to the church and our Christian faith is the presence of busy-bodies and gossips. Some are quick to pick up the phone and spread a rumor instead of taking the matter to the Lord in prayer. We do the individuals involved, nor the church, any good by spreading rumors and gossip! Much of the ammunition the world uses against the church is supplied by those of the church. Let us lead quiet lives and shut down the old rumor mill.
It is believed, many in Paul’s day were so excited about the Lord’s soon return that they sold all their goods and began to make preparations for that day. Now, I am not teaching that we should not make preparation and fully anticipate the Lord’s coming, but we must continue to work while we are here. Many in that day had given away all they had and no longer could provide for themselves.
Christians not only have the obligation to love one another but also to be good testimonies to the people of the world. Paul’s great concern was that the Thessalonian believers earn their own wages and not become freeloaders depending on the support of unbelievers.
For the most part, the Greeks despised manual labor. Most of the work was done by slaves. Paul was a tent maker, and he was careful in Thessalonica to set the example of hard work. Unfortunately, some of the new believers in the church misunderstood the doctrine of Christ’s return and gave up their jobs in order to wait for His coming. This meant that they were supported by other Christians, some of whom may not have had sufficient funds for their own families. It also meant that these fanatical people could not pay their bills, and therefore they lost their testimony with the unsaved merchants.
In Closing....
We must always be looking for the Lord to come, yet we must be sensible in
the mean-time. I am troubled by those who are unwilling to do anything
for themselves, seeking to take advantage of the hard work of others. I
know some cannot help themselves, but if we are able, we are expected to
work and provide for our own needs. However, laziness on the part of believers
does nothing to advance the cause of Christ.
All of us have messed up our lives in one way or another. Jesus has something He wants to say to you. The glory of the gospel is that we can always have a fresh start, a new beginning.
As we review these verses, we see how practical the Christian walk really is. The obedient Christian will have a holy life by abstaining from sexual sin; a harmonious life, by loving the brethren; and an honest life, by working with his hands and not meddling in the affairs of others. When unsaved people see Christ magnified in this kind of life, they will either oppose it with envy or desire to have it for themselves. Either way, God is glorified.
May it be so..
the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.
Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen