…may the Lord cause you to increase and to abound in love for one another and for all, just as also we do for you, so that your hearts may be established blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Finally therefore, brothers, we ask you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus that, just as you have received from us how it is necessary for you to live and to please God, just as indeed you are living, that you progress even more…
For this is the will of God, your sanctification. (1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:1, 3, LEB)
Here at Christmastime, we often reflect on the first coming of Jesus. But Jesus is coming again. That is our hope.
In the last three months, two people I know have passed away and gone to be with the Lord.
But as Paul said, we don’t grieve as those in the world who have no hope. When Jesus returns, they will rise and we who are alive will join them in the air to be with Jesus forever.
And on that day, Paul says we will be established blameless in holiness before God. To put it more simply, we will be like Jesus, for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)
That’s our hope. But in the meantime, Paul and John both encourage us to become more and more like Jesus. (2 Thessalonians 4:1-3, 1 John 3:3)
I love the LEB’s translation of verse 3: You are already seeking to please God, but “progress even more.”
Keep moving forward. That’s God’s will for us. That moment to moment, day to day we become more like Jesus.
Lord Jesus, as I look forward to Christmas, I also look forward to your coming. To seeing you and seeing my friends again.
But until then, help me to keep progressing. Help me to keep on growing. And by your grace, help me to become more like you each day.
Moment to Moment (Bible blog) 