Paul's take-aways in 1 Thes

Rejoice always!
Pray constantly.
Give thanks in everything, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Don't stifle the Spirit.
Don't despise prophecies,
but test all things.  Hold on to what is good
Stay away from every form of evil...

...May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you!

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, 28

Our Calling

7 For God has not called us to impurity but to sanctification. 8 Therefore, the person who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who also gives you His Holy Spirit.
1 Thessalonians 4:7-8

Another thing...

Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving.

-Colossians 4:2

Seeking what is above.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

-Col 3:1-3


As you have guessed, I'm going through Colossians right now.  These are verses that stand out to me.  However,  this whole chapter spoke to me!  " If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above..."

Lately, I've been living on things below, like chapter 2 said.  Why do we choose to live in such an earthly way when we are no longer earthly?  I believe it's because I don't love Jesus enough.
John 14:24: "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words..."

So.  I know I need to love Jesus more.  How can I love Him more?  Chapter 3.

"...seek the things that are above, not on things that are on earth...  Put to death therefore what is earthly in you... On account of these the wrath of God is coming... now you must put them all away...

...Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony...

...let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful... Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly... And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus..."

Loving Jesus more means "putting off the old self and putting on the new," and this passage describes that.  But it starts with seeking what is above, and doing everything in the name of our Lord.

Pray for me as I apply this to my life.
And if you feel you're not where you're supposed to be, apply this to your life.
Let's seek what is above.

...then why?

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world?

-Col 2:20

If this is what He has done for us...

21 And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, 22 he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, 23 if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

-Col 1:21-23