Today's Passage:  1 Thessalonians 4

What are the skills or traits we are usually impressed by?  Good speaker?  Attractive?  Good people skills?  Intelligence?  There is absolutely nothing wrong with this list of traits that most of us are impressed by and look for in others.  However, it is quite discouraging that we do not applaud a person's character much more often than we do.  It seems throughout Scripture that God is much more concerned about a person's character than anything else. 

As Paul was writing to the Thessalonians, he wanted to encourage them to keep on growing in the Lord.  He even spelled out what that specifically looked like.  The Thessalonians were to give up lustful passions and to maintain self-control.  This encouragement had little to do with public acts or deeds.  This was sin that was done behind closed doors, whereas speaking blasphemy against Jesus Christ was a very open sin.  In other words, it is character that counts with God and not with what people can always see.

'Self-mastery' is a phrase I like to use when discussing character.  While we will certainly never be perfect, we should seek to master ourselves through the Holy Spirit as to throw off all the sin that we get wrapped up in (Heb 12).  Our Christian faith is one that stretches our abilities and we must continue to grow in that love/grace relationship.  Are you mastering yourself or are you being mastered?  It is a daily decision we each have to make.  What is your decision going to be today?