Scripture:
Finally, believers, we ask and admonish you in the Lord Jesus, that you follow the instruction that you received from us about how you ought to walk and please God (just as you are actually doing) and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expressed gratitude to God for your salvation]. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 AMP
"Push the envelope"; "Walk right". These are just a few things that come to mind after reading the scripture above. Paul is writing to all believers to push the envelope when it comes to living right and living in such a way that our very lives reeks of gratitude to God. When we say "push the envelope", it's just to say surpass the normal limits, go radical. And what does he want us to do? He's asking all believers to follow a life of purpose. How? To understand that we don't have the luxury to engage in frivolous living. We have to make every minute count as a child of God. To be kingdom focused always looking for ways and means to expand God's business. The second thing he wants all believers to be, is to go radical in our gratitude to God. He's not asking us to walk about smiling all the time, or laughing like sick people. He's asking that our attitude, our character and especially our speech glorifies God at all times. Wouldn't that be a radical change of our lifestyles? Instead of moaning and groaning we would be talking about the things we've seen and received from God. Instead of sitting in complaining train, we would be on the rejoicing track. Everyone would notice that something had changed. And you know what else? When we start praising God instead of murmuring, those around us will not have the need to complain. They will know that our personal atmosphere doesn't accept negativity. They will stop. Very soon we would have infected others with our new outlook and purposeful life of gratitude to God. What a world that would be. A world of light and praise.
Let's pray: Father, make me a game changer. Let me live a full life of grace and gratitude. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen
