More and More

So, I am writing a teaching series through the book of I Thessalonians and I am working through chapter four, and I stumbled onto something a little interesting. Chapter four has three parts (verses 1-8, 9-12, and 13-18). In 1-8 Paul is talking about how the people of Thessalonica are living like Christ, but - in verse one - should do it more and more, and then talks about how sexual immorality can screw that up. In 9-12 Paul is talking about how good these people are at loving each other as siblings, but - in verse ten - that they should do it more and more. In 13-18 (this is the classic reference for rapture theology) Paul describes the return of Christ like a 1st century wedding. Everything that Christ does in those verses is what the Bride-groom would do. There would be a trumpet call and loud shouting and then the groom would come to the bride. I believe in a marriage relationship it doesn't just start and never move or progress. In fact it is in constant movement - hopefully forward! Paul is telling these people to have a relationship with God. He wants their relationship with God to be more and more. I find this fascinating! And all to often we rip it out of context and make it say what we want it to say.