Remember 3

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

“It’s no skin off my nose.” Most are familiar with this expression. It is often said when advice is offered but not followed. It isn’t the person giving the advice who suffers when that advice is rejected, but the one who rejects it. Such an attitude could also apply to teaching about holy living.

In Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he addresses guidance for holy living. What has God NOT called us to? What has God called us to? If we reject holy guidance who are we rejecting?

Paul makes it clear – God does not desire that we live lives of sin and error. He does not want us to do harm to others and to ourselves, to be self-seeking and cruel. Rather, God desires that we strive to be the holy people we are called to be.

As we move forward in our faith journey we can receive guidance from other believers. Those who are strong in their relationship with God can help us find our way and give us help in growing deeper in our faith. We can look to those who are strong Christians as examples of how to live a good and righteous life.

As we consider those we know who have passed on we can recognize the good examples of faithful believers they have been. We can see that we can learn from what they have taught.

But it is up to us to embrace this guidance and the examples given. It is up to us to value what God desires for our life and to try to live out the love of God. It is our choice to live this way or that.

And who is it that is hurt when we choose to do wrong? If we choose to ignore the teachings of Christ, if we choose to ignore the lessons of Christian living, if we choose to turn our backs on the good examples of righteous believers we are not taking away from these wonderful saints. Our errant ways do not diminish the good that others do.

If we choose to turn from God we are not taking away from the good that has been done, we are simply rejecting God and His desires for us. Instead of rejecting the holiness God desires for us we should embrace it.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What do you do to avoid rejecting God’s desires for your life?