St. Cyprian wrote the following to a friend named Donatus in the 3rd century AD:
Yet, in the midst of it, I have found a quiet and holy people. They have discovered a joy which is a thousand times better than any pleasure of this sinful life. They are despised and persecuted, but they care not. They have overcome the world. These people, Donatus, are Christians... and I am one of them.
Throughout his letters in the new testament, Paul urges Christians to live a life worthy of Jesus Christ and of the hope which we have received. But, as St. Cyprian outlines in his letter, it is easy to become complacent when we are living in comfort and God has provided many blessings for us. The cares of others and those of a lost world seem removed, lessened, miles away.
In such times, when our hearts grow hard and our minds are set on sinful, worldly things, The Lord may allow us to be subjected to times of difficulty brought out of our own decisions. Rather than this being a pointless exercise in cruelty, God disciplines and teaches us with all love and compassion, such as we could never comprehend. At any one time, God has our very best interests at heart, whether physically, emotionally, whatever.
What does it mean to live a life that pleases God?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-12:1Finally, 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.2For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.
3It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4that each of you should learn to control his own bodyin a way that is holy and honorable,5notin passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life.8Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit.
9Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other.10And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.
11Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,12so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.
Here is a perfectly clear instruction on how to live a life which is pleasing to God, and this provides us with a blueprint of what we should all be striving for. Key verse:"7For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life."
Verses 1 and 2: Paul outlines the teaching which the church in Thessalonica has already received, and he encourages them not to forget or disregard The Word which they were taught. This is a vital point: do not forget the teaching you have received, and don't disregard all that you have learnt. Whether you are a new believer or you have been saved for thirty years, you should have many experiences and teachings which you can draw on and apply in your life. The Christian was meant to grow! If you look hard enough for it, God will teach you new things every single day.
Verses 3 - 5: Sexual sin is a perversion of what God originally intended as a pure and holy union between man and wife. Sexual immorality and lust have no place in the body of Christ. The seventh commandment tells us not to commit adultery, but in Matthew 5:28 Jesus says; "28But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Verses 6 - 8: God sees everything you do, and He will punish those who sin. He searches out the hearts of man. Keep yourself from deceiving others and live a holy life.
Verses 9-12: Living with one another in brotherly love is not an easy task. Certain people frustrate you, others ignore you. But remember this: we are all brother and sister in Christ, we have all been called into His service. Attempt to live a quiet life in service to God, and He, who is the provider of all things will give you sufficiently for all your needs.
Let us be a 'quiet and holy people', disregarding the pleasures of this sinful life and enjoying an inexpressible joy in Him who has saved us from all our sins. Praise God!
Take a break and test your knowledge on one of our bible quizzes here.
"Jesus Christ did not say, 'Go into the world and tell the world that it is quite right.'"
C.S. Lewis
