1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

 Where we are called to be holy unto the Lord, nevertheless, as chosen children of God, we also have an obligation to live our lives before others. Matthew 5:13-16 says, 

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that[b] they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Therefore, as holy people of God, we are called to be salt and light to the world. Salt seasons and preserves. In the same way, we also must season our culture with the flavor of God’s righteousness as a preserving influence. As God’s righteousness prevails, it preserves a culture until the time when Christ returns for His elect! All praise and glory to God! We also are to be the light of the world. In the prologue of John’s gospel, John 1:3-4, 9 says, “In him [Jesus] was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it … The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. Those of us who have the light of Christ is to be like a city on a hill bringing light for others to see. So, we look at the connection between being sanctified and being salt and light. They both are a call of God. They both are for the elect or chosen of God. They both glorify our Father who is in heaven. They both are to be seen by others: as a seasoning with flavor, as a preservative to sustain, and as a way to reveal the works and presence of God in our lives. What a difference God makes in our lives. 

We are not common, but separated, chosen, and holy before Him. And we are called to be holy for a purpose. Psalms 86:9 says, “​​All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name.” Romans 15:9 says, ‘and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name.”’ 1 Peter 2:12 says, “Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation.” Revelations 15:4 says, “Who will not fear, O Lord, and glorify your name? For you alone are holy. All nations will come and worship you, for your righteous acts have been revealed.” And finally, there is a wonderful verse in 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 that says, “To this end, we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

In our passage today, Paul highlights aspects of the Christian life that distinguishes them from the common. One element, in particular, is love. Jesus Christ gave us this new commandment to love one another, and by doing this, others will know that we are children of God (John 13:34). Yet the focus is not on us, but on the difference that God has made in our lives. John the Baptist said that he must decrease so Christ may increase (John 3:30). That is to be our example. As we pursue and demonstrate the love of God to others, we are sharing the Christ who taught us and gave us this love. The Thessalonian Christians, in the short time the Apostle Paul was with them, were changed from being self-serving, pagan worshipping idolators, to lovers of God. This reminds me of Theophilus, the lover of God to whom Luke wrote his gospel and the book of Acts to. The name Theophilus means, ‘Lover of God.’ But not only were the Thessalonians lovers of God, but they were also lovers of others. Why? Because they were taught this by God, the Holy Spirit who lives within every believer in Christ. The Holy Spirit’s duty is to teach and apply the Word of God to people’s lives. In this way, they become imitators of God for His glory alone. But Paul’s message here not only commends them for doing right but exhorts them to continue their practice of loving others. Something that we all need to heed. Paul also instructs them to live quietly, not in a raucous that promotes chaos and division. For God is a God of unity and love. The Thessalonians are also to mind their own business and not be busybodies, which also causes strife amongst brothers. And finally, Paul instructs them to work diligently with their hands so they can be independent and owe no man anything. Later on, in the next letter to this church, the Apostle Paul had to address a misunderstanding of the imminent return of Christ. Many Thessalonians assumed Christ would indeed return so quickly that they were not working to provide food for their families. They took the warning to be watchful and ready for the return of Christ to the extreme. Paul told them in 2 Thessalonians 3:10, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.” These instructions by Paul are very sound, practical advice for us all. We also need to live quietly, mind our own business, and work diligently with our hands. But even more so, we all must love our brothers and sisters; in this way, others will know we are children of God.