Last Sunday I began my final series of messages as your senior pastor. I am focusing on the life transformation vision that our Freedom church family lives out each day and referring to it as a radical revolution. Radical, because living like Jesus is clearly counter-cultural, and revolution, because it involves the changing of people’s hearts to serve Jesus as lord of their lives.
I am working through 1 Thessalonians with you, identifying four big goals for us to guide us in perpetuating the overall mission Christ has called us to. Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians contains relevant and timely counsel for people just like us who want to do everything we can to experience all that is available to us in Christ and to inspire others to do the same.
The first goal we identified last week is to be ready continually to reproduce our faith in Christ in others. That is how God’s kingdom grows. As followers of Jesus, we influence others we know to want follower and serve Jesus like we do.
This Sunday we will consider another worthy goal that will help us to keep everything about our lives in proper perspective…and I do mean everything. Make it a priority to seek to please your God above all else every day. That is the sure way to stay on track with your spiritual growth and kingdom service.
“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” 1 Thessalonians 4:1
Like Paul, I see so many of you putting this principle into practice. You truly do want to live your lives pleasing to God wherever you are and whatever you do. Keep it up. In fact, make this the condition for every decision you make, both large and small.
Pleasing God above pleasing people is a challenge for most of us. Being a people-pleaser is a frustrating way to live. Obviously, as Christ followers, we are to serve others with love like Jesus did. But there are times when people can expect or demand things from us that are counter-productive to our spiritual growth and kingdom ministry.
Read 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16 over the next few days and learn what Paul knows about the importance of pleasing God first even when others may not be pleased when we do. Can you spot the differences between those who live and minister the right way and those that don’t? I will identify them as I work through this passage with you on Sunday.
Have an amazing day…blessings.
Pastor Del