Get the appWordLive - Year OneSample
Prepare: As you approach the throne of heaven in prayer, allow the purity, power and goodness of God to fill your mind.
More of the same
The Thessalonians are strong in faith (3:8), great witnesses for Christ (1:8) and a blessing to many people (vs 9,10). You could say they’ve got the Christian life cracked. What else do they need to do? According to Paul, more of the same (vs 1,10) because God’s holiness bar is set very high!
Our holy God intends to make us holy (v 3) and he calls us to get involved in the process (vs 1,7). What does that mean in practice? Maybe it starts with asking ourselves the question: does this action, this word, this thought please or grieve God’s Holy Spirit?
Down to earth
Holiness is very down to earth. Since our bodies are God’s temple, inhabited by his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), what we do to our bodies and with our bodies will either honour or dishonour God. Paul hones in on the way we honour God through sex (vs 3–6). In biblical terms, sexual immorality is any practice that lies outside of God’s creation model of one man and one woman committed to each other for life.
Roman and Greek sexual practices were as varied as those of Western society today. A Thessalonian Christian refusing sex before marriage and committing to a monogamous relationship within heterosexual marriage would have seemed as odd and countercultural then as it seems to many people today. Holiness makes you different!
Respond: Pray that all God’s people will grow in holiness and honour God through their relationships. Pray for Christ’s love to surround and strengthen Christians who struggle with aspects of sexuality.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-26
More of the same
The Thessalonians are strong in faith (3:8), great witnesses for Christ (1:8) and a blessing to many people (vs 9,10). You could say they’ve got the Christian life cracked. What else do they need to do? According to Paul, more of the same (vs 1,10) because God’s holiness bar is set very high!
Our holy God intends to make us holy (v 3) and he calls us to get involved in the process (vs 1,7). What does that mean in practice? Maybe it starts with asking ourselves the question: does this action, this word, this thought please or grieve God’s Holy Spirit?
Down to earth
Holiness is very down to earth. Since our bodies are God’s temple, inhabited by his Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19), what we do to our bodies and with our bodies will either honour or dishonour God. Paul hones in on the way we honour God through sex (vs 3–6). In biblical terms, sexual immorality is any practice that lies outside of God’s creation model of one man and one woman committed to each other for life.
Roman and Greek sexual practices were as varied as those of Western society today. A Thessalonian Christian refusing sex before marriage and committing to a monogamous relationship within heterosexual marriage would have seemed as odd and countercultural then as it seems to many people today. Holiness makes you different!
Respond: Pray that all God’s people will grow in holiness and honour God through their relationships. Pray for Christ’s love to surround and strengthen Christians who struggle with aspects of sexuality.
http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-10-26
Scripture
About this Plan
WordLive provides a daily slice of Bible reading and commentary that, over four years, covers most of the Bible. The commentary encourages the reader to engage with the Bible passage in order to deepen their relationship with God, through reflection and practical application. The WordLive website offers further multimedia content and group Bible study, while registration offers a daily email, journal and bookmarking, and community tools.
More
We would like to thank Scripture Union England & Wales for providing this plan. For more information, please visit: www.wordlive.org/youversion
Related Plans
Bible Reflections From Scripture Union Volume One
Face To Faith
Daily Direction Reading Plan
Daily Encouragement
There's Hope For Today
The NIV 365-Day Devotional Reading Plan
The Jesus Bible Reading Plan
Day By Day With Billy Graham
The Gospel of Mark (Part Seven)
