Increase in Holiness: Come, Follow Me Weekly Challenge (1 Thessalonians & 2 Thessalonians)

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

This is the key to our eternal happiness: to increase in holiness to the Lord. Holiness and uncleanness are opposites. The scriptures say that no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of heaven, because the Kingdom of Heaven is the ultimate destination of “Holiness to the Lord.” Isn’t this what we seek as we live temple-worthy, and spend time in the house of the Lord, soaking in the love of heaven, the guidance of the Holy Ghost, and in the spirit of holiness?

The best part about increasing in holiness is that we are all capable of this increase. No matter where we are on the covenant path, or even if are we are currently off the path, we can increase in holiness. There is no way to be too holy, it is our eternal journey as we strive to be Christlike. The destination is exaltation, and to live in pure happiness and joy for eternity with our families.

President Russell M. Nelson says it best “I bless you with the courage to repent daily and learn how to exercise full priesthood power. I bless you to communicate the love of the Savior to your wife/[husband] and children and to all who know you. I bless you to do better and be better. And I bless you that as you make these efforts, you will experience miracles in your life. (April 2019)

As I ponder the best way to increase in holiness, I can’t help but think that it must lie in the commandments, since repeatedly the scriptures warn us to keep the commandments and we will prosper in the land, if not we will be cut off. Cut off from what? His light, his guidance, his love? All of those are what bring us the greatest joy. So we need his light, his guidance, and his love. He has commanded us to first love Him, then to love everyone else, to serve, to comfort, to lift, and to bless. As we turn to him with full purpose of heart, our time and efforts will be magnified and we will not be able to resist the urge to bless others, to lift and to help. Our hearts will be filled with love for all mankind, and as it is, our holiness to the Lord will increase and we will be filled with unquenchable JOY.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

As we “walk” along the covenant path, we should be aware of all that is happening around us. We should be willing to see those that have tripped over a boulder of grief, fallen from fatigue of discouragement, stumbled on a stone of loneliness, or fallen into a sink hole of doubt. This is the time that we should not walk on the other side of the road, or try to pretend we don’t see the spiritually wounded. We need to do our best to show the Savior’s love to them, pick them up, and do all in our ability to help them fully recover. This Godly love will come full circle, for each of us will have to be tried and refined, one way or another, and who knows, maybe the one you rescue will be the one to rescue us later on the journey. Regardless, none of us want to be left behind, and the Savior doesn’t want us to leave anyone behind. It is part of our call to holiness, to bring as many other travelers with us.

1 Thessalonians 2:12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

2 Thessalonians 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: