The pastor was preaching from 1 Thessalonians 4. When we read the words “even more” in both verses 2 and 10, I reread and made the connection. What are we to do “even more”? We are to love and live even more.
This got my curiosity up as to what else we are called to do “even more”. When I did just a little seeking, I found we are to produce even more, listen even more, give ourselves to the Lord even more. I’m sure you could dig a little deeper into God’s word yourself and discover a plethora of things we are to do even more because we are children of God.
The words, “like Tim says, ‘Why be average? Go above and beyond’” were written beneath verse two.
I challenge you to live an EVEN MORE life by:

• Live in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. Live with a purpose. Live a life of gratitude. Live a life of faith.
• Showing much love to others, yourself, and for God. Love as Jesus loved. Love selflessly.
• Produce much fruit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Produce endurance, strength of character, and confidence of hope.
• Listen to gain understanding and wisdom. Listen to value others’ opinions.
• Live for God. Live strong for Him, so that Satan will run from you. Live wholeheartedly for the Lord.

Ask yourself, “Why be average?” Go ahead and live an above and beyond kind of life.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie

Each “even more” verse I originally found, I’m sharing with you in three translations: Easy-Read-Version, Amplified, and New Living. Then there are some other verses sprinkled in for encouragement.

LIVE even more:
Brothers and sisters, now I have some other things to tell you. We taught you how to live in a way that will please God. And you are living that way. Now we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live that way more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 ERV
…and that you excel even more and more [pursuing a life of purpose and living in a way that expresses gratitude to God for your salvation]. 1 Thessalonians 4:1b AMP
Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You live this way already, and we encourage you to do so even more. 1 Thessalonians 4:1 NLT
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for the one who comes to God must believe that He exists, and that He proves to be One who rewards those who seek Him. Hebrews 11:6 NASB
When people live to please the Lord, even their enemies will be at peace with them. Proverbs 16:7 ERV
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, Colossians 3:23 NIV

LOVE even more:
Indeed, you already show your love for all the believers throughout Macedonia. Even so, dear brothers and sisters, we urge you to love them even more. 1 Thessalonians 4:10 NLT
In fact, you love all the believers in Macedonia. We encourage you now, brothers and sisters, to show your love more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:10 ERV
For indeed you already do practice it toward all the believers throughout Macedonia [by actively displaying your love and concern for them]. But we urge you, brothers and sisters, that you excel [in this matter] more and more. 1 Thessalonians 4:10 AMP
Owe nothing to anyone except to love and seek the best for one another; for he who [unselfishly] loves his neighbor has fulfilled the [essence of the] law [relating to one’s fellowman]. Romans 13:8 AMP
“I give you a new command: Love each other. You must love each other just as I loved you. All people will know that you are my followers if you love each other.” John 13:34-35 ERV

PRODUCE even more:
He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. John 15:2 NLT
He cuts off every branch of mine that does not produce fruit. He also trims every branch that produces fruit to prepare it to produce even more. John 15:2 ERV
Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that continues to bear fruit, He [repeatedly] prunes, so that it will bear more fruit [even richer and finer fruit]. John 15:2 AMP
But the fruit that the Spirit produces in a person’s life is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these kinds of things. Galatians 5:22-23 ERV
Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory. We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. Romans 5:2-4 NLT

LISTEN even more:
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. Mark 4:24 NLT
Think carefully about what you are hearing. God will know how much to give you by how much you understand now. But he will give you more than you deserve. Mark 4:24 ERV
Then He said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear. By your own standard of measurement [that is, to the extent that you study spiritual truth and apply godly wisdom] it will be measured to you [and you will be given even greater ability to respond] —and more will be given to you besides. Mark 4:24 AMP
The wise will hear and increase their learning, And the person of understanding will acquire wise counsel and the skill [to steer his course wisely and lead others to the truth], Proverbs 1:5 AMP
My dear brothers and sisters, always be more willing to listen than to speak. Keep control of your anger. James 1:19 ERV

GIVE YOURSELF TO THE LORD even more:
They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do. 2 Corinthians 8:5 NLT
And they gave in a way that we did not expect: They gave themselves to the Lord and to us before they gave their money. This is what God wants. 2 Corinthians 8:5 ERV
Not only [did they give materially] as we had hoped, but first they gave themselves to the Lord and to us [as His representatives] by the will of God [disregarding their personal interests and giving as much as they possibly could]. 2 Corinthians 8:5 AMP
So give yourselves to God. Stand against the devil, and he will run away from you. James 4:7 ERV
That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God. Romans 6:12 -MSG

WHY BE AVERAGE?!

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