I Thessalonians 4:1
“Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.”
The last time the focus of living a life “pleasing to God” was on loving God. It was based on Jesus’ recapping the Ten Commandments as follows “ ‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF” (Matthew 22:37-39).
Today’s focus will be on the second part, loving our neighbor as ourselves. The commandments say we aren’t to covet our neighbors goods or wife, to honor parents, not to kill, not to steal or bear false witness, and to not commit adultery. These are all good things to avoid. Doing so is one level of loving others.
Jesus brought it to another level. He stressed unlimited forgiveness (Matthew 18:22). Peter thought he was being generous by proposing seven times. Jesus responded seventy times seven. In that same chapter Jesus illustrated his point with a story. A master forgave an enormous debt. Once forgiven, that servant went out and demanded repayment from a friend. He showed no mercy.
We have been forgiven much, so we should be merciful. We will be challenged with this in all avenues of life. We tend to hover around the norm. Those that are overly angry, difficult, etcetera, we judge. We need to be gracious.
The Lord brings these into our lives to bless. They often bring us much grief. We are tested beyond our limits. That’s where love comes in. We need to ask for patience and love. God’s love becomes evident in the relationship. It might not be pretty, as these are difficult people. They will sense it.
Lord, help us to live a life pleasing to You by loving others.