And May the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, (13) so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints. (4:1) Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus, that you should abound more and more, just as you received it from us how you ought to walk and please God. (2) for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

The letter to the Thessalonians was written by the apostle Paul who was driven from that city by the Jews who were provoked by Paul’s effective ministry. Paul’s concern for the baby Christians there prompted him to send Timothy to check on their spiritual condition. Timothy’s good report that the converted there were standing firm in their faith resulted in this first letter. Our verses today tell us that in a few short months there was an amazing depth of teaching – great was the evidence of God working in them. The verses speak of the goals for spiritual stability which are faith in Christ, love for God and one another. The letter is noteworthy for its authoritative tone and emphasis on pleasing God as foundation for Christian external behavior.
in Christ, in faith, we are now members of God’s family – this is our spiritual reality. True faith is not just mental assent to the gospel. The faithful must be changed and have different desires; must delight in God and His Word. They turn from sin and seek to obey the Lord and please Him with thankfulness for free grace. God’s commands are not burdens but the path to religious Liberty which is NOT legalism. Freedom in Christ does not mean to follow the flesh but rather freedom from sin. Christ Jesus is the source of absolute moral truth in a culture of relativism. We are justified in Christ and now are on the walk of sanctification to be holy or separate as children of God.
We are to love God with all our hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves – the best remedy against evil acts is brotherly love. When we forget this or cease to pray we can feel distance from God. Then comes the question: Who moved?