Stranger

But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more (in brotherly love); 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, that you may walk properly toward those on the outside, and that you may lack nothing. (1 Thessalonians 4:10-12)

Paul writes to those in Thessalonica to encourage and admonish the believers there to live a life that is acceptable to God. Would that not be a great message for believers today? Many times, we cannot tell the difference between a Christ-follower and any other "good" person. Like the rich young ruler Jesus encountered (Matthew 19:16-22), there are many good and decent people today who simply cannot commit to Christ. That is understandable. What is not acceptable however, in God's eyes, are those of us who accept believers who settle for just any way of life. We gossip, we criticize, we excuse, tolerate . . . all to the disgrace of God. Can we commit to a holy, seperarte, sanctified life that honors God? The CHRISTian life is exciting, fun, and fresh every day. The problem is that we do not have enough examples around for others, especially our young people, to witness!