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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-8
Song: When We All Get To Heaven
“We give thanks to God always for you all.” There were problems in Thessalonica as with any local church. But Paul gave thanks for the brethren there. He did so frequently—“always,” he said. Have you given thanks in your prayers for this local church? Have you “remembered without ceasing” the activities of your fellow believers?
What recent “work” or evidence “of faith” have you seen displayed by a fellow saint? Surely there is one. Thank God for this contribution to the kingdom. Then tell your brother that you did so. Have you not recently witnessed some “labor of love” performed by one believer for another? It might not have been done for you. But it was done for one of your family—your Christian family. Thank the Lord for such charity and let your brother or sister know that you appreciate their kind heart.
Is there not some aged saint whose “patience of hope” in the face of pressing circumstances you admire? Thank God for giving you such an example of courageous hope and let that hopeful saint know that you’ve been encouraged by their example.
If a soldier of the cross like Paul could find reasons to give thanks and if he could find qualities of character to commend, then we surely could do the same. A part of edification is praying for one another. Another part is telling one another that we’ve been offering such prayers of thanksgiving.
Jason Moore
