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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

As we live as people alert and ready, is the idea of living a life pleasing to God intimidating or exhilarating to you? Is it difficult or delightful? A burden or a blessing?

Four truths for the weary heart on the matter of pleasing God that God has provided to you and I today:

1. God’s instruction for us is to please Him (1)

- Paul reminds the people they’ve received instruction – to please God (1)

- The instruction is for us, from God (8)

- Don’t give up on the lifelong endeavour of pleasing God more and more

Do you forget that God has given you instruction on how to live? Or perhaps do you despise that God has given you instruction on how to live?

2. God’s grace to us is He tells us how to please Him (2a, 4-12)

- God’s grace to you is He has told you not only what to do, but how to do it

Some of the ways we live a life pleasing to God:
- Living to contrast outsiders – reject the corruption of sexuality (3-8)
- Living to love each other – reject the corruption of society (9-10)
- Living to glorify God – reject the corruption of power (11-12)

- Reminders are essential for moral progress – then and now

Do you see the God ordained reminders in your life as essential for your progress in pleasing Him? Do you see it as a grace of God that He’s given the answer on how to please Him? Do you take seriously the way that God has said to please Him, and truly see it as the only way - living to contrast outsiders, love each other, and glorify God? In what area of your life do you need to grow in understanding how to please God through?

3. God’s empowerment in us is He provides the way to please Him (2b, 8)

- Empowered by the authority of the Lord Jesus (2) and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (8)

- It is only because of the perfect life of Jesus, living the life we couldn’t, the death of Jesus, taking the death we deserved for our sinful choices, and the powerful resurrection and ascension of Jesus, conquering the power of sin and death that we’re able to do this

Are you relying on your own strength to please God or have you fully submitted to the life changing power only He can provide? Have you taken the first step of acknowledging your need for His empowerment in your life?

4. God’s purpose for us is to be made like Him through pleasing Him (3)

- It is God’s will that you should be sanctified (3)

- God desires to see the lives of His living sacrifices as fully and completely holy (Romans 12:1)

Even when it’s painful, do you joyfully submit to the ways in which God is making you more like Him? Do you actively contribute through obedience and submission, empowered by His Spirit, to the work that God is doing in you?

Has God’s Word today given you clearer vision in seeing what it truly means to please God? Has it shown how a true understanding of what pleasing God is about completely changes the way we approach and try to live out a life pleasing to Him? Do you more clearly see how God is
different than that difficult coworker, friend, or family member? How living to please God moves from a burden to a blessing when we properly understand His instruction, grace, empowerment, and goal?