In Paul first letter to the Thessalonians, He praised his converts for their Christian walk, the way they had embraced the Gospel as the true word of God, the way their faith produced works, their love prompted labor and the way they had endured persecution. He instructed them how to live to please God, and they were living just that way.
Even though these young converts were living to please God and doing a good job of it, Paul wanted them not to settle for where they were but to press on in their walk with Christ. In 4:1 he praises them for the good job they are doing and then goes on, “Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.” [v1 NLT]
They are to become even more dedicated, even more sensitive to the ways of God. They are to sharpen their commitment. They are to win more spiritual victories. They are to move into a stronger relationship with their God. They are to be more steadfast, more resolute in the face of persecution. This isn’t just a mere continuation of what they were already doing; it was an expansion and deepening of their passion to follow Christ.
At the end of the previous chapter, Paul had prayed for these young believers, “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” Increase and overflow. Abound more and more. [3:12 NLT]
This life in Christ is described as a “walk.” That signifies to me that we are never to rest on our laurels, never to grow so satisfied, so content, that we stop, but always strive to press onward in Christ, abounding more and more.