November 25, 2015
Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4:3-6a
3It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister.
Questions for Reflection:
It’s important to know God’s will for our lives. Verse 3 is one of the times that it is clearly spelled out for us. We don’t have to guess or go on some grand quest to find the answer. It’s recorded for us right here. What does Paul write that God’s will for our lives is? Sanctification is the process of being made holy. What topic does Paul use to illustrate this concept?
The ancient Greek and Roman world had a wide range of beliefs regarding sexuality. Demosthenes, a statesman and orator, said of the men at the time: “We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for our day-to-day bodily needs, but we have wives to produce legitimate children and serve as trustworthy guardians of our homes.” In the early Thessalonian church, new converts would have come in with a diverse sexual ethic. Paul wants to make clear how we should act. What words does Paul use in verse 4 to describe how we should control our body? How does that stand in contrast to the “passionate lust” he talks of in verse 5?
Michael Holmes writes, “The principles of holiness and honor that Paul applies to the matter of sexual behavior are applicable to other areas of behavior or conduct as well.” How can you apply those standards to how you live every aspect of your life? What would it look like for you to apply honor and holiness to how you work? how you relate to others? how you serve your community? Spend time reflecting on how you can apply the standard of holiness and honor in your life today.