1 Thessalonians 4:1-8: a reflection

1Finally then, brothers, we beg and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, that you abound more and more. 2For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3For this is the will of God: your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, 4that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor, 5not in the passion of lust, even as the Gentiles who don’t know God, 6that no one should take advantage of and wrong a brother or sister in this matter; because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as also we forewarned you and testified. 7For God called us not for uncleanness, but in sanctification. 8Therefore he who rejects this doesn’t reject man, but God, who has also given his Holy Spirit to you.

Paul writes plainly about God's desire for his people's lives: This is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one of you know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor. God's will for us, Paul says, is our sanctification, our being made holy; and this includes how we use our bodies, in purity and honor rather than in the passions that dishonor. God has called us not to uncleanness, but to holiness, in this area as in every other.

Notice that God's will for us includes holiness in our bodies, in the area of our physical desires. Paul does not treat this as unimportant or private; he names it as part of the sanctification that is God's will. To control our bodies in holiness and honor, rather than being governed by passions that dishonor, is part of belonging to God, part of the holiness he calls us to. God has called us to be holy, and that holiness reaches into our physical lives, our desires and their use, not only our inner or outward religious acts.

That is worth taking to heart, for we can compartmentalize, imagining that holiness belongs to the religious or moral parts of life but not to our bodies and desires. But God's call to holiness reaches into every part, including how we use our bodies; his will is our sanctification, in this area as in all. Consider that God's call to holiness includes your physical life, your desires and their use, and honor him there as well as elsewhere. Do not treat the holiness of the body as unimportant or exempt from God's call; he has called you not to uncleanness but to holiness, and that reaches into your physical life. Honor God with your body, controlling it in holiness and honor, as part of the sanctification that is his will for you, remembering that the God who calls you to holiness has given you his Holy Spirit, and calls you to be holy in every part, your body included.

Lord, Paul writes plainly about your desire for your people's lives: this is the will of God, your sanctification, that you abstain from sexual immorality, that each one know how to control his own body in sanctification and honor. Your will for me, Paul says, is my sanctification, my being made holy; and this includes how I use my body, in purity and honor. You have called me not to uncleanness, but to holiness, in this area as in every other. Show me that your will for me includes holiness in my body, in the area of my physical desires. Paul does not treat this as unimportant or private; he names it as part of the sanctification that is your will. To control my body in holiness and honor, rather than being governed by passions that dishonor, is part of belonging to you. Your call to holiness reaches into my physical life, not only my inner or outward religious acts. Take that to my heart, for I can compartmentalize, imagining that holiness belongs to the religious or moral parts of life but not to my body and desires. But your call to holiness reaches into every part. Help me consider that your call includes my physical life, my desires and their use, and honor you there as well as elsewhere. Keep me from treating the holiness of the body as unimportant or exempt from your call; you have called me not to uncleanness but to holiness. Help me honor you with my body, Lord, controlling it in holiness and honor, remembering that you have given me your Holy Spirit and call me to be holy in every part.