1 Thess 4:1 Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

  

 

There is no standing still in the Christian life. Sometimes we are tempted to feel that once we have become a Christian we have ‘arrived'. No, we have only just begun. There is so much to learn. Previously we had lived how we wanted – and had made a mess of things. When we came to Christ we found there was a new life to be lived, a life under the guidance of God. We found, as we read the Bible, that there were specific things God didn't want us to do and other things he specifically wanted us to do (e.g. Col 3:5-14). We learned that our lives were to gradually become Christ-like (2 Cor 3:18). Thus we found ourselves on a journey of change.

 

Now Paul is aware of this and he also realises that there is no standing still so he says to the church in Thessalonica, we taught you the sort of life that pleases God but now we urge you to live that life more and more. In other words, work at it, work at becoming more Christ-like, work at becoming more godly, more righteous in practical ways. Grow in Christ, become more mature, develop, let Him teach you more and more. Let His grace and truth grow in you more and more. May the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22,23) be evident in you more and more. May your experience of the Lord grow more and more as the years pass. It's an ongoing journey. Don't stand still.