“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, 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. . .. Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1, 9-10)

It was announced twice in the life of Jesus. The first time at His baptism and the second at His transformations. The first time it happened, Jesus received it and the second time it was for the disciples who were with Him.  “At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. Just as Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’” (Mark 1:9-11) The Second time Jesus was coming to the time when He would go to the cross. Jesus, Peter, John and James were on their way to pray. When Moses and Elijah appeared and were talking with Jesus. When cloud covered them and God the Father spoke. “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” (Matthew 17:5) Whether it was for Jesus or for His Disciples, God expressed that He was pleased with Jesus. He was pleased with the Son and His life lived in the flesh.

As followers and disciples of Jesus Christ, we are also to live as the sons and daughters of God. We are to live as Jesus did. We are to please Him. In Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, He would commend them for their living life to please God. “As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.” (1 Thessalonians 4:1) He commends them on their learning and putting into practice what they had learned in order to please God. Then he added, “Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” Jesus had pleased His Father when His ministry began at His Baptism, but He would continue to please Him all the way to the cross. He would accomplish what He was sent to do. As we live now to please God, we are to keep on doing what will please Him.

One way they are to please God is by their love for one another. “Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.“ (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10) This is doing the commandment which Jesus gave to the church. “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 10:34-35) Again, Paul commends them for their love for each other. Then, challenges them to love each other more and more. In the opening of Paul’s second letter to them, he says, “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.” (2 Thessalonians 1:3) May we join them as we learn to love each other more and more, all as we seek to please God more and more.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block