Scripture to Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:2
When we consider what God led Paul to write in verse 2, it is quite humbling. God led Paul to say he, Silvanus, and Timothy ALWAYS give thanks to God for ALL of the believers in Thessalonica. The believers in Thessalonica were not perfect because they were just like us. The early believers had to crucify the deeds of their flesh daily; they had their weaknesses to overcome and they had to choose to love God and love people just like us. But God still led Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to tell the Thessalonians that they gave thanks to God for all of them. God wants us to be thankful for the believers in our lives as well. We will not always agree with every believer about every issue of life, because that does not happen. But we need to be thankful for the believers God has put into our lives because He has put them there for a purpose. God places those believers in our lives to help us, as Christians to grow, to challenge us, to encourage us, to hold us accountable, to lovingly admonish us when we need it, and to help us when we are weak. In turn, we must live our lives in such a way that we give every believer who knows us a reason to be thankful for us. Finally, we must also pray for each other continually. God encourages us to make mention of each other in our prayers. Praying for believers awakens in us an attitude of thanksgiving for them.
Challenge & Application
1. What did God teach you today about thanking and praying?
2. Who are you praying for this week? Who, this week, will you encourage by telling them how thankful you are for them?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!