EXHORTATION
In 1 Thessalonians 4 the Apostle Paul gives us a trio of exhortations:
“aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands”
First, aspire to live quietly. We live in an age of “Hot Takes.” The way to get noticed it to say something crazy, and if that doesn’t work, try screaming it. But Biblical Christians aren’t seeking attention for themselves. Jesus Christ must increase, and we must decrease.
Second, mind your own business. God has put weighty responsibilities in your hands. Responsibilities that, if you are good stewards, will require as much of your focus and daylight as you can give them. Meddling in the lives of others is gambling with time that God intends you invest wisely.
Finally, work with your hands. Darwin says you have hands due to random accident. Paul says you have hands because God ordained you to work, to teach, to embrace, to protect, and to discipline. Your hands are charged with divine significance and purpose. How are you using them to create and then improve what has been created?
All three of these exhortations remind us that the Christian life is embodied. It isn’t abstract. The end goal of Christianity isn’t to become less human and therefore more spiritual—it’s to become fully human. It’s to train both our soul and our bodies to image Christ.
So, let’s confess our sins.
CONFESSION
Almighty Father,
You have called us to live a quiet life, focused life, and hard-working life. We confess to you those times we’ve brought attention to ourselves so we could feel more important than we are. We have coveted the lives of others instead of minding our own business because we aren’t grateful for the life you’ve given us. We confess our own laziness and idleness when you have created us to be creators and producers in the world you made.
Father, all of these sins have robbed you of the glory we could have given you, they have robbed others of the community, care and provision they could have provided, and they have robbed us of the joy of living out your design for us.
Father, forgive us for all these sins and many more. Teach us to live as Christ lived—bringing you glory, always serving others, and working diligently at everything he did.
We know if we say Amen to this prayer while ignoring it in our hearts, this prayer will have no effect, so hear us now as we confess our individual sins to you in silence.
In Jesus name we pray, Amen!
ASSURANCE OF PARDON – Colossians 1:13-14
“He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1:13–14, ESV)