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Who Are You Thankful For? (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3[/perfectpullquote]Paul mentions numerous times that he consistently prayed for his fellow believers, but we are only going to focus on one – 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Here, Paul is thanking God for his fellow brothers and sisters in Christ for their faith, love, and hope in Jesus Christ. I think it’s encouraging that even though Paul was not able to be with them, he still gives thanks for what they are doing.
It’s easy to thank God for people who are close to us and who benefit us. For example, many years ago my car broke down and left me stranded in a parking lot. I was able to get a hold of my roommate who was a mechanic and he helped me to get back home. I thanked God for him that day and for blessing him with a knowledge of cars. I have even had people tell me that they have thanked God for me when I have done something for them or helped them through a situation that they were facing. Can you think of someone who has come to your rescue or benefited you in any way?
Now, is it wrong to thank God when He sends someone along our path to help us? Absolutely not, but we should also thank God for those who are serving Him in their daily lives. I am not talking necessarily talking about those who are in full time service. I am actually talking about those who lives their lives that are worthy of God’s calling. Who do you know that is full of works of faith, love, and hope? Maybe it was your Sunday School teacher from years ago? Maybe it was a parent or grandparent? Maybe it’s your neighbor from across the street that you have witnessed their positive testimony? Right now in our society it seems like instead of praising and thanking God for the Christians in our lives, we are focusing on all of the hatred and seems to be pouring forth from every direction.
Our society cultivates this and it is easy for us to focus on all of this hatred as well, but that shouldn’t be. Where is the faith? Where is the love? Where is the hope? We, as believers, should be focused on what God has done for us and share our faith, love, and hope with everyone around us. We should be thanking God for the people we know who are being an example to others, that they would endure and have the strength to continue on.
So, be sure to spend time in prayer praying for those you know are shining brightly in this dark, dark world. Let’s keep one another in prayer. Even though we may not have seen each other in a while, I think we need each other’s prayers more now than ever. Having trouble coming up with names? Make a list, write it down, and keep it tucked away in your Bible so you can consistently pray for your fellow Christian brothers and sisters.
I am thankful for all of you. Keep up the good work!
– Pastor David Guenin
