The message of I Thessalonians 4 could be stated in one sentence:  Live holy for me, love the brethren, work honestly because I am coming for you.

“1  Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more” (Super Abound).  Paul was passionately desirous that they live to please God in order to super abound in life.  He even gave them clear commandments in obtaining that abounding life.

As a child, one of my favorite games, while walking with my father, was trying to get in step with him. It was great fun as he taught us some silly marching songs. He illustrated how to stutter step in order to come into step with the leader. As his legs were so much longer, we were always having to catch up and get back into step. Up until his illness whereby Jesus led my Father on the march home, he could still out-march all of his boys!  He was such a strong man that inspired me to get into step.