Proper 26: Epistle, 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12              

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Sometimes the greatest way to learn the right things is to look at least for a season at the wrong things. The church of Jesus is weakened when we do not come to terms with the darkness around us. Or God forbid, we attempt to deny it. Here the blessed Apostle pens encouragement to the young Thessalonian congregation that they should continue to live the God-pleasing lives on which they have embarked. And then he lays out the course of love as the way.

But in the midst of his teaching he begins on what might be termed the “dark side” of his subject. Satan always posits clever counterfeits for the real thing. In the realm of darkness love is corrupted and shows up as lust. God’s will is purity, being set apart for His purposes and at the head of love (and any other virtue) is a clear gaze upon God. And a reception of His gaze. That two-way exchange is the walk, the traverse of the way. Lust is love apart from God. “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you” (1 Thess. 4:7-8).

Then Paul deposits the true way of love, commending the Thessalonians for what he has already observed and experienced in them. Loving the family on the inside also gives the power and motivation to love those on the outside. Contemporary teaching in the church sometimes blows right past the need for the church’s need to learn to love one another. The “social gospel” and “social justice” concerns have pointed the church to the outside, denying or at times not even realizing that the foundation of loving the lost is learning to love the family. “Do this more and more,” says Paul. Love well in the house and you will love well in the neighborhood, in the towns and beyond.

Love dear ones. Let God’s gaze fill you with adoration for Him. Gaze back and don’t be in a hurry. The poor (lost) you will always have with you. Love as God loves, not in the lust of darkness, but with the light of life. Love in the right direction.