September 04 2026

September 04 Friday

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2

How to Walk and Please God

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat. Today we begin 1 Thessalonians chapter 4. The first three chapters have been very personal. Paul has talked about his ministry among the Thessalonians, his love for them, his concern about their faith, Timothy's visit, and the wonderful report that they were standing fast in the Lord. Now, beginning in chapter 4, Paul turns his attention more directly to how Christians should live. He writes: “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; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

I want you to notice Paul's expression: “How you ought to walk and to please God.” The Bible often uses the word walk to describe the Christian life. Our walk is the way we live every day. Christianity isn't merely something we believe on Sunday morning. It affects Monday morning. It affects our marriage. It affects our family. It affects our work. It affects our finances. It affects what we watch, what we say, where we go, and how we treat people. Our Christianity should affect our entire walk.

But Paul gives us the great goal of that walk: “To please God.” That raises a very important question: Who am I trying to please with my life? Most of us naturally want people to approve of us. We want our family to be pleased with us. We want our friends to like us. We want people to think well of us. But the highest ambition of the Christian should be: “I want my life to please God.” Paul said in Galatians 1:10: “For if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” There will be times when pleasing God means we cannot please everyone around us. Sometimes obeying God will be unpopular. Sometimes standing for truth will cost us something. But when this life is over, the opinion that will ultimately matter is God's.

And notice something else. Paul tells these believers that they were already walking in a way that pleased God, but then he says they should “abound more and more.” We keep seeing this theme in Thessalonians. Paul doesn't say, “You're doing well, so you can stop growing.” He says, in effect: “You're doing well—now keep growing.” That is spiritual maturity. No matter how long we have known Christ, there should always be an “abound more and more” in our lives. We can pray more. We can love more. We can know God's Word more. We can serve more faithfully. We can become more like Jesus. I have been walking with the Lord for many years, but I still need to grow. And so do you. None of us has arrived.

Then verse 2 reminds us that Paul's instructions were not merely his personal opinions: “For you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.” Paul's authority came from Christ. That is why the Word of God must be the standard for our lives. Our culture constantly changes its ideas about what is right and wrong. Public opinion changes. Social standards change. But God's Word does not change. So today, perhaps we should ask ourselves a simple question: “Is the way I am walking pleasing to God?” Not, “Does everybody approve?” Not, “Is this popular?” Not even, “Does this make me happy?” But: “Lord, does this please You?”

What a wonderful way to begin every morning: “Lord, today I want to walk in a way that pleases You.” And when tonight comes, may we be able to look back over our day and know that, by God's grace, we sought to honor Him.

Let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank You for reminding us that the Christian life is a daily walk. Help us not merely to profess our faith with our lips but to demonstrate it by the way we live. Lord, deliver us from living for the approval of people and give us a sincere desire above everything else to please You. Help us to abound more and more in faith, love, obedience, and Christlikeness. May our decisions, words, relationships, and actions today bring honor to Your name. In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen.

God bless, and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!