Paul wrote a very complimentary letter to the brethren in Thessalonica. He was mindful of their “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). He acknowledged their willingness to suffer and to spread the gospel (1 Thessalonians 1:6-8; 2:14). He expressed thanksgiving for the fact that they “accepted [his message] not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). He described them as his “glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20). He received “good news” from Timothy regarding their “faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 3:6). Yet even though Paul praised them so highly, he encouraged them to excel beyond this.

“Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more. For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 4:1-2).

We need to be faithfully serving the Lord today – as the brethren in Thessalonica were – but we are not to remain in our current state. We also must “excel still more.” Let us consider Paul’s statement above and see how we should apply it to ourselves.Continue Reading