Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life...
I Thessalonians 4:11
OBSERVATION
At the beginning of chapter 4, Paul tells the Christians in Thessalonica that they have received instruction on living lives that please God. He then encourages them to continue to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord. He talks about sexual purity and brotherly love. Then we encounter verse 11, where the church is instructed to live a quiet life. In fact, it says "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life." This concept of a quiet life jumped off the pages for me, especially that it is placed in a section of scripture referring to living a life pleasing to the Lord.
APPLICATION
We live in a busy world filled with noise and distraction. The concept of a quiet life seems so counter-cultural. We fill our lives with busyness and activity. We even seem to promote how busy we are to others as if there is a relationship between our busyness and our value. This all leads to a point where we feel burdened and anxious about life, and this isn't how God intended for us to live. Too frequently I equate my importance and value by the busyness in my life. I need to embrace the concept of quiet and simplicity. I need to guard my time. I need to guard myself from allowing activities and busyness to dictate what is important and true in my life. I need to place God before everything else. I need to make it my ambition to lead a quiet life that pleases God.
OBSERVATION
At the beginning of chapter 4, Paul tells the Christians in Thessalonica that they have received instruction on living lives that please God. He then encourages them to continue to live in a manner pleasing to the Lord. He talks about sexual purity and brotherly love. Then we encounter verse 11, where the church is instructed to live a quiet life. In fact, it says "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life." This concept of a quiet life jumped off the pages for me, especially that it is placed in a section of scripture referring to living a life pleasing to the Lord.
APPLICATION
We live in a busy world filled with noise and distraction. The concept of a quiet life seems so counter-cultural. We fill our lives with busyness and activity. We even seem to promote how busy we are to others as if there is a relationship between our busyness and our value. This all leads to a point where we feel burdened and anxious about life, and this isn't how God intended for us to live. Too frequently I equate my importance and value by the busyness in my life. I need to embrace the concept of quiet and simplicity. I need to guard my time. I need to guard myself from allowing activities and busyness to dictate what is important and true in my life. I need to place God before everything else. I need to make it my ambition to lead a quiet life that pleases God.
PRAYER
Father God, help me to take control of my life. Help me to guard myself from those things that rob time and energy from those things that are important. Help me to live a life that is pleasing to you.
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