1 Thessalonians 4:1 - Striving for excellence

Scripture:

1 Thessalonians 4:1
1 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.
NASU


Thoughts:

I think the hardest thing about being a Christian, is that we are engaged in a long distance journey that will last until the Lord brings us home.  If it were simply a sprint -- a few months or years in duration -- perhaps all of us could feel as though we had mastered it.  But it's the year-in year-out, day-to-day challenge of living out what we know to be true and right, that is so difficult.

I think one reason we find it difficult, is that we tend to not strive for excellence in our walks.  Though we may do so in many other areas of life:  our hobbies; our work; our studies; our management of our homes and personal lives; to name a few.  When it comes to walking with Christ, we can be a bit lazy.

It is true that some fall on the other extreme, which is legalism, where there is no resting in the Lord.  But we also must not allow ourselves to fall asleep in that proper rest!


Prayer:

Lord, I want to excel in my walk with You.  I want more faith in You, more focus on You, and more obedience to You.

Change me; grow me; make me like You.  I have no strength in myself to accomplish this, I know. 

Help me to see You in my life, today.  Even in the mundane.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.