“Congratulations for doing so well!” Friends and family recently showered me with kudos. But it was due to the fact that my daughter had done exceptionally well in her national examinations. As a father, I couldn’t have been prouder of my daughter’s achievements. Likewise, we do our heavenly Father proud when we live our lives “in a way that God would consider worthy” (1 Thessalonians 2:12; see also Matthew 5:16).

That the believers at Thessalonica would live in a way “that God would consider worthy” (1 Thessalonians 2:12) was Paul’s expectation for his spiritual sons and daughters. Bible teacher Alexander Maclaren states: “Here we have the whole law of Christian conduct in a nutshell. There may be many detailed commandments, but they can all be deduced from this one.”

To live a “worthy” life means reflecting in our words and actions who our heavenly Father is (Matthew 5:48; Ephesians 5:1). It means to become like His Son Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29; 1 John 3:2).

To live worthy lives, we need God’s Word . The Bible is not “mere human ideas.” It’s the “very Word of God” that has the power to transform lives and “continues to work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). To live worthy lives, we must receive, believe, and be changed by God’s Word (Romans 12:2).

Paul also warned us of God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 2:16). God’s anger is just as real as His love (Exodus 34:6-7; Jeremiah 32:18). When we “fail to please God” (1 Thessalonians 2:15) and “continue to pile up [our] sins,” there is no escaping God’s wrath (1 Thessalonians 2:16, Hebrew 2:1-3, 10:26-29). God will punish sin and sinful behavior (Proverbs 3:11-12; Hebrews 12:9-12).

Our Father has certain expectations of us. Let’s get to know Him better and better, and produce every kind of good fruit that honors and pleases Him (Colossians 1:10).

NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Exodus 11:1-10; 12:29-36