(1Th 4:9) “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”   Question: if you are taught of God to love one another, then why do we not see more sacrificial love? There are only two possible answer I can think of: one, we are so rebellious as to ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit to love; or two, we are not what we profess to be. I ask you before God today, “Which are you?”

 (1Th 4:9) “But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.”  I believe that in this matter of love, Believers fail the most. We love like the world loves; we love those who love us. Fleshly love is not sacrificial. The love spoken of here is God’s love, His loving through us, for it is sacrificial. It’s the love that is to love the unlovely. We even see sacrificial love less and less in our homes. If we cannot sacrificially love those even in our homes, we won’t love the true brothers and sisters of Christ. And we certainly won’t love those outside the brethren. Challenge yourself regarding the type of love you demonstrate. 

(1Th 4:8) “He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.”  If you are rejected or in some way persecuted for living for God, then it is not you who they despise, but the Lord in you – the Holy Spirit. The Lord Jesus told us that men love darkness rather than light. This is absolutely true. Fallen man will love you as long as you walk in agreement to them. But light reveals what is in darkness and who wants their sin revealed? Regardless, walk in way of the light, for you have been called to that life.  

(1Th 4:7)  “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”  We do not come to the knowledge and salvation of everlasting life without the Lord’s calling, “drawing”. The Bible says all men have gone “out of the way”. It says, “ No man seeketh after God”. Since that is true, God then draws us to Himself. Oh how wonderful and merciful our God is! He seeks out those who have sinned against Him and saves them through the blood of His Own Son!

(1Th 4:7)  “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”  A holy thing is anything that is separated unto God. If an unholy, unclean, person touched it, it was made unclean. The saved have been separated, made holy, unto God. We are to keep unclean things from it. That is, we are to seek to maintain our bodies, holy in thought, thus in what we see and hear. Actions are the result of what we think, who and what we are. Keep yourself holy for your God and Savior

(1Th 4:5) “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:(6) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” We often find ourselves discouraged when we discern someone we esteem not doing what we believe to be right to do. This is especially true when that someone is a spiritual leader. Always remember, the Epistles were given because we need instruction on how to overcome the old nature. Our sin nature gets in the way of living and doing right. Keep your eyes upon the Lord, not man – no matter who that man is. I follow Him. Do not let the sins of any man keep you from serving the Savior!

1Th 4:5) “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:(6)  That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.”  There is a group of people today who say they are Christians but instead worship a God of their imagination, not the God of the Bible. Our God not only loves the sinner, but also hates the sin. The death of His Son proves that fact. He chastens true Children for their rebellion, just as a good parent punishes the rebellious child. Is your God the God of the Bible?

 (1Th 4:5) “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: (6 ) That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:”  The word “defraud” is an extension of the word “lusts” and to be interpreted in the context of “concupiscence” – desire for what is wrong. So, it would be to cheat or to deceive another in other to gain what they have. You and I are to be as honest as the day is long, for our Lord is as honest as the day is long. In all things we are to seek to do as He would do. Lord help us to do so.  For more, come to www.thirstingsouls.com

 (1Th 4:5) “Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:”  “Concupiscense” is a lust or desire for that which God says is wrong. The fallen nature is naturally rebellious, longing for the forbidden. The new nature of the saved desires the things of God, thus the conflict within all truly saved people. What governs the choice of the saved? The level of their love and devotion to their Savior: “If ye love Me, keep My commandments.” (Jn 14:15).