1 Thessalonians 4:1-8 Furthermore then we beseech you, brothers, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus… I. POSSIBLE. He has been pleased with men — Enoch, Noah, Daniel, etc. This is wonderful — wonderful that the Infinite should condescend to notice any one individual so insignificant as man. Still more wonderful that He should be pleased with anything that man can do. God is a pleasable Being, and man can contribute something to His pleasure. II. INCUMBENT. "Ye ought." Why? 1. Because He is the absolute Proprietor of your existence. He has a right to everything you have. 2. He is the most righteous of sovereigns. He does not require you to do anything that is not right and just. 3. He is the most tender of fathers. The only way to please yourselves is to please Him. (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. |