Living to Please God

4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters,^(A) we instructed you how to live^(B) in order to please God,^(C) as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

¹⁰ so that you may live a life worthy^(A) of the Lord and please him^(B) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,^(C)

Thanksgiving and Prayer

³ We ought always to thank God for you,^(A) brothers and sisters,^[a] and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.^(B)

¹⁸ But grow in the grace^(A) and knowledge^(B) of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.^(C) To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.^(D)

¹⁶ And do not forget to do good and to share with others,^(A) for with such sacrifices^(B) God is pleased.

⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love^(A) may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,^(B)

⁵ For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;^{(A) 6} and to knowledge, self-control;^(B) and to self-control, perseverance;^(C) and to perseverance, godliness;^{(D) 7} and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.^{(E) 8} For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive^(F) in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.^{(G) 9} But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind,^(H) forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.^(I)

¹⁰ Therefore, my brothers and sisters,^[a] make every effort to confirm your calling^(J) and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble,^(K)

²² and receive from him anything we ask,^(A) because we keep his commands^(B) and do what pleases him.^(C)

¹⁰ And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia.^(A) Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more,^{(B) 11} and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands,^(C) just as we told you, ¹² so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders^(D) and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.