November 29
Today’s Reading: 1 Thessalonians 4–5; 2 Thessalonians 1–3
Scripture Focus:
“Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT
“God has called us to live holy lives, not impure lives.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:7 NLT
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NLT
“Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words.”
— 1 Thessalonians 4:17–18 NLT
“But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation.”
— 1 Thessalonians 5:8 NLT
“Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.”
— 2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
“So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call.
May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.”
— 2 Thessalonians 1:11 NLT
⸻
Devotion — Even More
Paul’s words to the Thessalonian believers feel like a gentle hand on the shoulder:
“You’re already living in a way that pleases God… now do so even more.”
This is the heart of true discipleship — not perfection, but direction.
Not checking boxes, but continually choosing Him because we love Him.
God has called us to holy lives (4:7). Holiness is not cold or unreachable.
It is simply this: I want Jesus to shape my life more than the world does.
It’s allowing His voice to matter more than the culture around me.
It’s wanting the Father’s smile more than human approval.
Paul then shifts our eyes to hope — the kind of hope the world cannot mimic.
We grieve losses, but not like those without hope (4:13).
We face trials, but not without the promise that we will be with the Lord forever (4:17–18).
This hope keeps our minds clear, our hearts steady, and our armor on (5:8).
Then Paul does something beautiful:
He celebrates the growth he sees in God’s people.
“Your faith is flourishing. Your love is growing.” (2 Thess. 1:3)
What a testimony.
What a desire for our own church and our own hearts.
And then he prays a prayer we all need most:
“May God give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do.” (2 Thess. 1:11)
This is the secret:
We live holy lives by His power.
We live hopeful lives by His promise.
We live to please Him by His Spirit.
And He invites us to lean in “even more.”
⸻
Lesson for Me
Living to please God is not a burden — it is my joy.
He calls me to holiness, gives me hope in every circumstance, surrounds me with growing love, and supplies the power to do everything my faith prompts.
My part is to keep choosing Him… even more.
⸻
Application Questions
1.What does living “in a way that pleases God” look like for me this week?
2.Where is God calling me to grow “even more”? In purity? Love? Obedience?
3.How does the hope of Christ’s return shape the way I face grief, challenges, or fear?
4.How can I cultivate a flourishing faith and growing love like the Thessalonians?
5.What good thing is my faith prompting me to do — and am I relying on God’s power to do it?
⸻
Prayer 🙏
Lord, help me live in a way that pleases You.
Make holiness my desire, hope my anchor, love my testimony, and obedience my joy.
Give me the power to accomplish the good things my faith prompts me to do,
and help me grow “even more” in every area that reflects You.
Amen.
⸻
Journaling Reminder
Sit quietly with Jesus.
Ask Him:
“Lord, where do You want me to grow even more?
What step of obedience are You prompting me to take today?”
Write what He shows you — His encouragement, His correction, His leading, and His hope.