Be Holy, Be Righteous. 1st Thessalonians 4:6-8 Blameless living and holy conduct reflect the Holy and Righteous God. Godly believers may not realize the positive influence they have on others. Righteousness is a reward in life for believers and serves as a testimony for the One who has imputed His righteousness to us. Holiness, sanctification, and purity in life are directly connected to our Christian witness. An assembly is shaped by the conduct of all its members. God is directly involved in each person's life because the Holy Spirit dwells within each of us. We must not disregard what pleases God, even though others may mock, challenge, or oppose the lifestyle of those who belong to God.
Committing to doing what's right isn't complicated when we understand what “right” is. Fellowship with saints and God signifies walking in the light. When we respond to grace with a grateful heart and are aware of the Spirit living within us, we will recognize what is right, wrong, good, or sinful. Uncontrolled thoughts can lead the mind down a dark path that distances us from God. Eventually, those thoughts become hidden plans, which then become our choices. When those plans are fleshly and stem from unfulfilled fantasies, we drift further from God and may hope that their conscience is silenced.
Sexual sin is against both God and others. Human beings were made in God's image and likeness, and that remains true. However, when people reject this or don't care whether it's true or worth knowing about God, He allows them to go to a reprobate mind. These effects harm many people who are connected to those who commit sexual sins.
Taking something from someone personally and for your own benefit is to defraud them. Some things can never be returned, and withholding what someone will never have because of your actions also defrauds them. God has called us to be holy, not unclean. We have been given the Holy Spirit to sanctify us so we can live righteous lives in holiness.
It is God’s will that we be sanctified in body, soul, and spirit, and that we abstain from fornication. He intends each believer to exercise control over themselves so they are not ruled by the passion of lust that controls those who do not know God. We have no right to take what does not belong to us for self-gratification, as it will lead to uncleanness instead of personal and practical sanctification.
There is a way to escape; we don't have to give in to temptation. Faith, the Holy Spirit, and God's word define my situation. If I submit to God's will, He can act on my behalf, bringing practical sanctification, and anyone close to falling values practical redemption. Take control of your mind, body, and soul; do not let troubling thoughts get out of control. Through God's provision, you will find sanctification by the Spirit and the Word. Actions that were planned to fall are abandoned, and by faith, you turn away from any person or temptation that pressed you to stray.
Pleasing God begins in the mind, where we plan our actions. Decisions made beforehand strengthen those focused on Christ. Pleasing God becomes our top priority, and faith responds by seizing the now-uncertain task. Our efforts and our hearts are committed to those things that please the Father and the Son, and through this, we are sanctified.
It’s not enough to stay where I am and think everything’s just fine the way it is. My life isn’t over; I’m still moving forward, and maturing takes time. I can learn some things from others who have gone before me, but my response to them is up to me. I can’t stop now; there’s more ahead as I climb toward faith’s goal. It’s important to keep adding to what I know and have experienced. Because I may have seen and done quite a lot, doesn’t mean I know everything. The more I learn shows me that of all the things around I’ve seen, it’s only a scratch on the surface of life and of truth God has given me.
Physical life never fully reaches a point where everything is under control. My heart remains deceitful, and the desire for more persists even as I grow older. Ambition, challenge, influence, and power can sometimes be more important to older people than wealth and material possessions. But I want true devotion, compassion, and grace to increasingly fill my life and flow through me.
I want to increase my love for the saints, God, and His word every day. I need to be consistent and dedicated to showing others real proof of God’s redeeming grace through His faithful servant. To maintain a vibrant devotional life, I must take time wherever I am to fill my mind with truth and my heart with His presence. It requires effort and intentionality to deepen and add to each area of my life. My walk, my words, and my life with the Lord must grow in faith more than in sight. I need time with God, who helps me each day to be strengthened to live by His power, word, and grace. If I make the effort and dedicate time, my response to His will allows me to move forward with Him and makes every part of my life stronger.