want then to rest on their laurels so he urges them ‘in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more’. Paul is driving them on to overflow with godly living. They must make it their constant aim to live more and more in obedience to the Lord’s commands. Paul says ‘in the Lord Jesus’ to emphasize that his instructions come by virtue of his union with the Lord, whom he represents and whose Spirit inspires him. The purpose of believers is to please God in all things. We are to abound in the work of faith