1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to live and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
How many times have you asked what the will of God is for your life? Me too.
We sometimes want God to tell us exactly what career to choose, house to buy, spouse….but, God doesn’t always give us a clear sense of direction in the way we want. Consider the lives of some of those who have gone before us.
Think about it. Abraham wandered around the Middle East for years. Joseph had a clear dream and sense of direction, but don’t you think he was surprised with how it all came about? Moses did not experience the call on his life until he was 80 years old. And that’s just some of the examples from Genesis.
So what about God’s will can we know?
In the passage above, Paul begins with encouraging them to live so they “please God, just as you are doing, that you do more and more…For this is the will of God, your sanctification.”
Paul’s example of holy living here is that we live our lives honoring God by avoiding sexual immorality. In letter after letter, Paul addresses this subject, so we’re not the first group of people to live in a culture obsessed with sex.
Here’s some of what Peter had to say on the subject of God’s desire for holiness in our lives:
“He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1: 15-16
“…Walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy…”
Colossians 1:11-12
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