Though some grasp for the sensational things in religion, Paul often encouraged others to simply CONTINUE following the instructions they had already received on how to walk and please God (in other words, preaching isn’t all about telling people something they’ve never heard before as much as it entails exhorting folks to continue in the things that they already know to be true).

Moreover, some are content to stay within their comfort zones and not strive for personal growth, while others look outside themselves for motivation to get to “the next level.” However, according to God, Christians should continually INCREASE their EFFORTS and STRIVE for spiritual growth (while looking to Christ).  

In addition, it is common for people to justify their sinning by saying that “no one is perfect,” but God calls us to LIVE A SPECIAL LIFE by avoiding sexual immorality and refraining from taking advantage of or cheating our brothers and sisters. THE LORD WILL JUDGE all wrongs, and we should strive to live holy lives!

And while it is good to SHOW LOVE towards our brethren, we should aim to do it EVEN MORE! 

We may live in an age where celebrity worship, gossip, slander, and government handouts are prevalent… But God calls us to LEAD peaceful lives and FOCUS on our own affairs, WORKING honestly with our hands, so that we may walk PROPERLY before those who are not yet in Christ.

The summary & applications above are meant to provide some modern applications, but by way of principles for meditation, GOD SAYS IT MUCH BETTER: 

1 Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; 

2 for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; 

4 that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,

5 not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; 

6 that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. 

7 For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. 

8 Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 

10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 

11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 

12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

~ 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12