1 Thessalonians 4

You're God-Taught

1 One final word, friends. We ask you-urge is more like it-that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance.2 You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus.3 God wants you to live a pure life. Keep yourselves from sexual promiscuity.

4 Learn to appreciate and give dignity to your body,5 not abusing it, as is so common among those who know nothing of God.

6 Don't run roughshod over the concerns of your brothers and sisters. Their concerns are God's concerns, and he will take care of them. We've warned you about this before.7 God hasn't invited us into a disorderly, unkempt life but into something holy and beautiful-as beautiful on the inside as the outside.

8 If you disregard this advice, you're not offending your neighbors; you're rejecting God, who is making you a gift of his Holy Spirit.

9 Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don't need me to tell you what to do. You're God-taught in these matters. Just love one another!10 You're already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it.

11 Stay calm; mind your own business; do your own job. You've heard all this from us before, but a reminder never hurts.12 We want you living in a way that will command the respect of outsiders, not lying around sponging off your friends.

The Master's Coming

13 And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word.14 Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.

15 And then this: We can tell you with complete confidence-we have the Master's word on it-that when the Master comes again to get us, those of us who are still alive will not get a jump on the dead and leave them behind. In actual fact, they'll be ahead of us.16 The Master himself will give the command. Archangel thunder! God's trumpet blast! He'll come down from heaven and the dead in Christ will rise-they'll go first.17 Then the rest of us who are still alive at the time will be caught up with them into the clouds to meet the Master.18 Oh, we'll be walking on air! And then there will be one huge family reunion with the Master. So reassure one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5

1 I don't think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen.2 You know as well as I that the day of the Master's coming can't be posted on our calendars. He won't call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would.3 About the time everybody's walking around complacently, congratulating each other-"We've sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!"-suddenly everything will fall apart. It's going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.

4 But friends, you're not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this?5 You're sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand.6 So let's not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let's keep our eyes open and be smart.7 People sleep at night and get drunk at night.8 But not us! Since we're creatures of Day, let's act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

9 God didn't set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ.10 He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we're awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we're alive with him!11 So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you'll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you're already doing this; just keep on doing it.

The Way He Wants You to Live

12 And now, friends, we ask you to honor those leaders who work so hard for you, who have been given the responsibility of urging and guiding you along in your obedience.

13 Overwhelm them with appreciation and love!14 Our counsel is that you warn the freeloaders to get a move on. Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs.15 And be careful that when you get on each other's nerves you don't snap at each other. Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out.

16 Be cheerful no matter what;17 pray all the time;18 thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.

19 Don't suppress the Spirit,20 and don't stifle those who have a word from the Master.21 On the other hand, don't be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what's good.22 Throw out anything tainted with evil.

23 May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together-spirit, soul, and body-and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ.24 The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he'll do it!

25 Friends, keep up your prayers for us.26 Greet all the Christians there with a holy embrace.27 And make sure this letter gets read to all the brothers and sisters. Don't leave anyone out.

28 The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you!

2 Thessalonians 1

1 I, Paul, together with Silas and Timothy, greet the church of the Thessalonian Christians in the name of God our Father and our Master, Jesus Christ.2 Our God gives you everything you need, makes you everything you're to be.

Justice Is on the Way

3 You need to know, friends, that thanking God over and over for you is not only a pleasure; it's a must. We have to do it. Your faith is growing phenomenally; your love for each other is developing wonderfully. Why, it's only right that we give thanks.4 We're so proud of you; you're so steady and determined in your faith despite all the hard times that have come down on you. We tell everyone we meet in the churches all about you.

5 All this trouble is a clear sign that God has decided to make you fit for the kingdom. You're suffering now,6 but justice is on the way. When the Master Jesus appears out of heaven in a blaze of fire with his strong angels, he'll even up the score by settling accounts with those who gave you such a bad time.7 His coming will be the break we've been waiting for.8 Those who refuse to know God and refuse to obey the Message will pay for what they've done.9 Eternal exile from the presence of the Master and his splendid power is their sentence.10 But on that very same day when he comes, he will be exalted by his followers and celebrated by all who believe-and all because you believed what we told you.

11 Because we know that this extraordinary day is just ahead, we pray for you all the time-pray that our God will make you fit for what he's called you to be, pray that he'll fill your good ideas and acts of faith with his own energy so that it all amounts to something.12 If your life honors the name of Jesus, he will honor you. Grace is behind and through all of this, our God giving himself freely, the Master, Jesus Christ, giving himself freely.