God's Will

God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives. Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.
-First Thessalonians 4:7-8 (New Living Translation)

Of all the topics and subjects I write about here, I think the topic of a changed life is one that I write about most often. Maybe someone needs to hear about this topic-maybe that someone is me. In any event, Paul is teaching this church about a changed life, and what it means if we don't allow God to mold us into the people He desires.

Verse 7 says, "God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives." When we accept Jesus as our Savior and Lord, there needs to be a change. Why would God give Jesus as payment for our sin if we could just go on living like we always did? There must be a change. God didn't call us to live the same way we did before, He called us to live holy lives, to be set apart for His use. We are called to live holy lives, not lives full of sin. 

But, I think verse 8 nails the point. "Therefore, anyone who refuses to live by these rules is not disobeying human teaching, but is rejecting God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you." In the preceding verses, Paul is teaching about sexual immorality. Verse 3 says, "God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin." How can we be set apart for the use of God if we can't control our sexual desires? We can't. Verse 6 says, "Never harm or cheat a Christian brother in this matter by violating his wife,^[c] for the Lord avenges all such sins, as we have solemnly warned you before." We can't live a holy life when we can't control our lusts and desires. If we continue to live in sin, verse 8 tells us that we are not rejecting man, but we are rejecting God. We care choosing our sin instead of the righteousness of God. 

And, if we reject God, we will be rejected. Jesus said in Matthew 10:33, "But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven." What's is going to be? Are you going to submit to the will of God for you? Or, are you going to reject Him. There's no middle ground. Think About It.