“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” (1 Thessalonians 1:6-7).

Did you ever play the game of dress-up when you were young?  You pretended to be much older than you were.  In a way, when one puts on Christ, they are playing a game of pretend.  “Let us pretend we are like Christ.”  Then, slowly, one actually does become like the one they are imitating.  This is why Scripture tells us over and over to “Put on Christ,” that we may become like Him.

Lord, You have made clear that one of the objects of our faith is to become like Christ.  Help me, O Lord, to not shirk the challenge You have given me, but live toward the goal of becoming like Christ so that I may fulfill what Scripture says.  Guide me, Lord, in the true way of life so that I may be led by You in the strength and admonition of the calling You have given me through my baptism.

Lord Jesus, You are the model of the godly life.  You have come to lead the way so that where You go, I may follow.  In the power of Your Spirit, guide me this day that I may become what You are making of me.  You are Lord and Master and must lead me, for I cannot go anywhere toward what You offer without Your leadership.  Guide me this day and grant me a willing heart to follow where You lead.  Amen.

“Knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake” (1 Thessalonians 1:4-5).

You are beloved of the Lord.  These are not just words to comfort you, but the truth of the reality which the wicked cannot understand.  Live into the full conviction that these things are most certainly true.  Know that in the Lord, there is true hope.  The world may be filled with wickedness, but You have been called through your baptism to life—the life of one who has been redeemed by the Savior.

Lord, You know the state of all things.  You know the particularity of every circumstance.  Guide me in the way You know is needed that I may live into the life You have given me by grace and through faith.  Let me prove worthy of the calling You have given me by living this life of faith which is mine through You.  Let Your conviction shine forth through my life for others to see.

Lord Jesus, You know where I need help.  Help me in the way to live life so that Your presence is always in me and showing.  Guide me with each step to do what You give me to do.  Strip me of worldly ways which hinder my walk with You.  Guide me into all goodness by Your mercy.  Help me now and always to live into the life to which I have been called.  Teach me how to do all things for Your sake.  Amen.

“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father” (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3)

In whom or what do you hope?  We are all reminded that our hope must ultimately be in the One who has redeemed us.  In Him alone is all hope.  Through Him we have the promise of life eternal.  Come then and be led by the God of all hope and learn from Him, for He is gentle and loving.  May each of us join in with the prayers of all the saints knowing that He is working through us in His grace.

Lord, there is a great cloud of witnesses that You have gathered together over the years.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of everlasting life so that I would humbly walk with You, my Lord and God, and become what You intend.  Through others and having joined in with continuous prayers, lead me along the narrow path to mature in faith and share all that You have given me with others.

Come, Holy Spirit, and kindle in me the hope that surpasses all understanding.  Put into my mind all those for whom You want me to pray.  Guide me in the goodness of Your mercy so that I would humbly walk in Your guidance and daily become more like Christ.  Through all of these things, keep me steadfast in Your Word, humble in countenance, and stalwart in my bearing.  All for Your sake I pray.  Amen.

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace” (1 Thessalonians 1:1).

Many are they who serve the church.  There are two Epistles written to Timothy.  Through them and to you are given the mysteries of the faith.  It has been shared with you so that you would learn and grow and then share with others.  This is why it is often said that the faith is caught and not taught.  This is why Jesus said that we would know each other by the fruits that were given to each person.

Lord, You have called me to Yourself.  You have sent teachers along the way who have directed me along Your path.  You have brought me through all things thus far. Lead me, O Lord, so that I would humbly walk in Your presence and know You more fully each day.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would learn from You, take up my cross, and follow You.  Through all things, be my guide.

Lord Jesus, You send those who help me understand better the faith You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I would humbly learn from You and follow where You lead.  Through whomever You send my way, help me learn each day a little more of what it means to be faithful.  Guide me Lord and I will follow.  Put Your heart into me so that I may become what the Father is making of me.  Amen.

“Say to Archippus, “Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, that you may fulfill it.”  I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. Remember my imprisonment. Grace be with you” (Colossians 4:17-18).

Paul’s signature is on the letter so that those receiving it may know it is genuine.  The devil is always on the prowl and there are those who fall for the temptation, hence the admonition to Archippus to return to the ministry He received.  We live in a difficult age.  By that, I mean the age of sin.  We are called to behave as those who live in the age of the eternal presence of the Lord.

Receive the same message given in this letter, “Take heed to the ministry you have received from the Lord.”  Are you in the process of fulfilling what the Lord has given you?  Are you being faithful to the call you have received from Jesus?  These are important questions, for our faith grows in the living of that faith.  It is in the journey that our eyes are opened more fully.

Lord Jesus, You have called each one of us through the Great Commission to go into all the world.  This age teaches us to leave these things to a professional.  You teach us to do these things daily and in every place.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may now and always walk humbly with You, doing what You give me to do.  May I be found always faithful in Your grace, O Lord.  Amen.

“Greet the brethren who are in Laodicea and also Nympha and the church that is in her house.  When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and you, for your part read my letter that is coming from Laodicea” (Colossians 4:15-16).

We have received the Good News, which is about Christ and when we receive Christ, we live the Good News.  We are to share what we have received.  The faith is caught and it is caught from those who share it.  Therefore, we are all a part of the sharing of the faith we have received.  In our day we expect others to do things, but the Lord expects us to be participants in His kingdom.

Lord, let me not be a compartmentalized modern man, but one who follows You in the timeless way of sharing what I have received from You.  Guide me, O Lord, so that I may learn from You all that this means.  You have sent messages to me and through me You send messages to others.  Lead me to be consistent in all I do and say that others may receive through me that which You alone give.

Lord Jesus, You are the Good News that has come into the world in order that we may have true life.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may be guided by You alone.  You have, in many and various ways, informed me and molded me with the sharing that has happened amongst believers.  Guide me to hold fast to the truth, Lord, in order that I may always walk humbly in Your ways.  You are the One who must lead me.  Amen. 

“For I testify for him that he has a deep concern for you and for those who are in Laodicea and Hierapolis.  Luke, the beloved physician, sends you his greetings, and also Demas” (Colossians 4:13-14).

The saints care for those around them.  You may not notice, but there are many who are deep in the Lord and awaiting the opportunity to serve in His name.  Are you one of them?  There comes a time when, in maturity, we move from the ones being served to the ones who are serving.  The Lord desires that we all grow and mature in the faith and become a part of the witness of the martyrs.

Lord, let me not be caught up by this culture, being immature and always complaining.  Instead, help me to grow in faith such that I do not linger in the elemental things, but grow in wisdom and maturity.  Lead me, O Lord, according to Your goodness so that I would now and always abide humbly in Your goodness and mercy.  Let me not do things the way I think they should be done but do them as You would have me do them.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is all hope and an eternal future worth living for.  Guide me this day to serve where You would have me serve.  Through all things, continue to teach me and help me to teach others what I have learned.  I am Yours, O Lord, and I ask only that I may be of use to You and Your kingdom.  May I be counted amongst the saints who have gone before.  Amen.

“Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12).

The actual word used in the Greek is the word for slave.  We begin by calling the Lord Jesus our Master.  That is because we do not know what we are doing, where we are going, and why we need to do certain things.  We must be as a slave to the master.  We need another to direct us in the way we should go.  This is what is means to be saved.  To be lifted up and out of the wickedness of this age is what salvation does.

Lord, help me to not fall into the rebellious habits of thinking that I can do all things the way I want to do them.  Guide me to see that in You alone is all hope.  In You is the way of life.  I do not know these things even when I think I do.  You need to lead me.  Help me to learn to listen to Your direction that I may grow in the goodness You have given me by grace to become like You.

Lord Jesus, You know how far I need to go.  You have encouraged me each step of the way.  Lead me, O Lord, that I may now and always be guided by Your mercy and grace.  Where I still rebel, bring me into submission.  Where I need to be bold, give me strength.  In all things, help me to be what You are making of me so that I may live into this eternal life You have given me by grace through faith.  Amen.

“Aristarchus, my fellow prisoner, sends you his greetings; and also Barnabas’s cousin Mark (about whom you received instructions; if he comes to you, welcome him); and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me” (Colossians 4:10-11).

We again meet familiar people with whom Paul was traveling and knew.  Barnabas and John Mark.  Both are mentioned many times in Acts.  Their story intertwines with Paul’s.  This shows the reality of community (as Paul is addressing communities).  In this sense, things have not changed.  Come then and live in the goodness of the Gospel and see that in the Lord is the Truth He is unveiling to those who believe.

Lord, let me see the connections of Scripture so that I may understand more fully.  Help me now and always to be led by what is true.  Through these witnesses, encourage me to be a witness in a world that is skeptical and unbelieving.  Lead me, O Lord, and I will be led.  Guide me, O Lord,  that I may walk in the likeness of Christ my Savior.  Through all things, help me to become what You are making of me.

Lord Jesus, we all have been called in Your grace to become like You.  In Your image have we been created.  Help me to see the bigger picture so that I may humbly walk in the direction You are guiding me and become what You are making of me.  Through all things, keep my eye on the prize so that I may not waver from the faith You have given me in grace and mercy.  Amen.

“As to all my affairs, Tychicus, our beloved brother and faithful servant and fellow bond-servant in the Lord, will bring you information.  For I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know about our circumstances and that he may encourage your hearts; and with him Onesimus, our faithful and beloved brother, who is one of your number. They will inform you about the whole situation here” (Colossians 4:7-9).    

Scripture is connected and the story of the Gospel is connected.  The Epistle of Philemon is to Onesimus.  If you think about all of the connections and the situations of each of these people as far as you know them, you begin to realize that they were fully human (messes and all) and were following the Lord with all they had.  It is no different for us.  We are to follow the Lord no matter what.

Lord, help me to see the finer points of Your word.  Help me to see the reality of those whom You have called by faith and in grace.  Help me to move beyond the elemental view of Scripture to receive a mature understanding of living the life of faith which You have given me.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life that You have established.  In and through all things, help me to be Yours fully and wholly.

Lord Jesus, You know all of Your followers better than any of us know ourselves.  Lead me  Lord so that I may now and always be guided by Your goodness and see that You are leading amidst the circumstances in which I find myself.  Help me now and always to look to You and to be encouraged by the witness of the saints around me.  In all things, may I follow Your example.  Amen.