1 Thessalonians 4:9-18 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18. Let’s go!
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 (NIV)
9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.
10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
On verses 9-10: Apparently, other than in the area of sexual immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:1-8), the Christians in Thessalonica were generally quite good at loving one another. Paul encourages them to do so more and more.
What can we learn from this? When it comes to loving others, aim to love people better and better, more and more. Don’t settle for where you’re at. Jesus’ love for people is all-surpassing and without limit. May His unparalleled love cause you to aim higher when it comes to loving people. Let’s raise our love game.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 (NIV)
11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,
12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
On verses 11-12: May you be known not just for your words, but even more for your actions, the way you work, the way you carry yourself and treat others. May your lifestyle, and not just your lips, speak of Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 (NIV)
13 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.
14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.
16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
On verses 13-18: Some Christians in Thessalonica expected Jesus to come during their generation and were perplexed when they saw their Christian loved ones die (or, as Paul says, “fall asleep”) before Jesus had returned. What would happen to their loved ones who had already passed? Here Paul reassures the Thessalonian Christians that on the day that Jesus comes again, with a trumpet call all Christians who had already died would rise from their graves (v16) — presumably in a new resurrected body (1 Corinthians 15:35-49) — and join Jesus in the air. Then those Christians who are still alive at that time will join them. This must have given at least some in the Thessalonian church comfort, knowing that they would get to see their dead loved ones again.
What can we learn from this? Death is not something Christians need to fear. For God will raise up all those who have placed their faith in Jesus, whether they are now dead and buried or still living. In Jesus there is hope beyond the grave.
Thank You, Lord, for always encouraging us to love people better. May my lifestyle and not just my lips speak of Your love. And thank You that death is not something we need to fear. Thank You that in Jesus there is hope beyond the grave. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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