“So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints” (1 Thessalonians 3:13).

“So that you may,” is the direction to which we are heading.  Do not think that somehow the ancient church accomplished this goal.  In eternity we shall be presented without spot or blemish, just as Christ was when He was crucified for us.  The journey of this life is one whose purpose is to put on Christ and become like Him.  We are to be wholly set apart for the Lord and live in Him.

Lord, You know where I am in this journey.  Help me to always see things in such a way that I know there is need to go farther, for in truth I know that I have many things in me which are not holy or blameless.  But some of those things are not as I imagine.  Help me to always look to You, for You are the finisher of my faith.  In You alone will all of this come to fruition.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way I need to go.

Today, Lord Jesus, be my complete guide.  In Your Spirit, lead me each step of the way so that I might be guided by Your example and in the way You have established.  Thank You for providing all that is needed.  Thank You for clearing the way so that all those who love You would be prepared to be with You forever.  Let me not rest until my time to sleep before the resurrection in order that I might be presented complete according to Your plan.  Amen.

“Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you” (1 Thessalonians 3:11-12)

The Lord commanded that we love one another and Him with all we are.  This has never stopped being the prime directive.  We are to love others as He first loved us.  We are to increase in love.  God is love and we were created in His image.  Therefore, increase in love and in the likeness of the Lord.  Know that He will accomplish this in all who love Him and believe in His promises.

Lord, continue to guide me in the way You know I need to go.  Help me now and always to see that in You there is all hope and glory.  Guide me, Lord, according to Your will and by Your Holy Spirit so that I would grow in love and therefore in Your likeness.  Let not anything hinder the way I need to go.  Lead me each and every day You give me to keep the prize in my mind and live according to the Father’s will.

Lord Jesus, You know all that is needed.  Through Your Holy Spirit, You know me better than I know myself.  Continue to lead me and remove from me all sin and from those acts by which I resist the cure that grace brings.  Guide me in all goodness to see that in You alone is there hope and the promised eternal future.  Do not let anything hinder the way I need to go.  Guide me now and always, Lord, to be in the Father’s will.  Amen.

“For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10)

All have places in their faith life where they are lacking.  We each need the help of the Lord and He often gives that help through others.  Be willing to receive what the Lord gives and be willing to receive those whom He sends.  Know that the Lord will not stop until He has done all that He intends to do that you, His bride, may be presented without spot or blemish on that day.

Do not resist the Lord, nor turn away from what He is doing.  Know that the Lord will accomplish these things according to His will. Come then and live in the hope He gives You and know that He will do all of this if You allow Him to. In this sense, the sooner the better.  Receive the earnest prayers of those who prayed for you and receive what the Lord will do for you in answer to those prayers.

Lord Jesus, You know how many over the years have been praying that I would live into this life of faith You have given me.  Do not stop until all the help I need has been given.  Then, turn me around and send me to help others in the way I have been helped.  Guide me to be a willing and freely-giving part of the bride You are shaping for eternity.  Lead me ever deeper in faith.  Amen.

“But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you,  for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 3:6-8).

There is something to this idea of standing firm.  It is strange, but it often seems as though the church is looking for relevance when, in fact, it has the truth.  The world on the other hand seems to be bold in declaring it has the answer when it is always changing because it is spitting in the wind and listening to the wicked one who is chasing those of the world and whipping them up in a lather of frenzy while chasing everything and nothing.

Lord, You have spoken the word of truth once for all.  Help me see that truth clearly.  Help me to hear the truth plainly.  Help me to apply the truth as it has been applied over the ages.  Guide me so that I may be one who lives the way of truth and does not falter from humbly walking with You.  Your Word is truth and You have given Your Word in order that all who believe could walk in salvation.

Lord Jesus, Word of Truth, guide me today and everyday so that I would walk with You and apply all that You taught Your disciples to my life.  Let me be neither haughty, nor fearful, but firm in the conviction You have given me.  Your Word is truth and You have shown us the way to live.  You have provided grace upon grace in order that we would be free to live in the right way.  Lead me now, Lord, to live the life You have given me.  Amen.

“For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain” (1 Thessalonians 3:5).

Can a fellowship be led astray?  Read for yourself: yes, it can.  The tempter will temp with whatever can lead people astray.  Do not think it could not happen to you.  Look around you.  Many who once displayed faithfulness now act as if there were no faith at all.  This does not mean being paranoid, but only diligent and steadfast.  Hold to the truth delivered once for all in Christ.

Lord, where there are errors in my thinking, correct them.  Where I have wandered, bring me back to the safe ground.  Where I am waffling, show me the firm place to stand my ground.  Let my response be “no” every time to the tempter and “yes” every time to You.  You have bought me and brought me through grace to this place.  Guide me Lord in the way of truth You have established.

Holy Spirit, You know my heart and where I have wandered.  Keep bringing me back to the safe place established by Christ that I call grace.  Guide me in Your goodness to flee from the wicked one and run into Your arms of grace and mercy.  Through all things, help me to hold fast to the truth which has come down through the ages.  Be my guide and direction and keep me in the narrow way of truth.  Amen.

“For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know” (1 Thessalonians 3:4).

Have we not heard that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and the hope of Christ has therefore been poured into us?  Do not be surprised at the hostility in this world, for the world continues to hate the Lord.  Hear what is told you beforehand so that when it comes to pass you may stand firm in the faith that You have been given.

Lord, all things are in Your hands.  They always have been and always will be.  Lead me, O Lord, to not react to circumstances, but see that You are here with me.  Guide me Lord so that I may stand firm in the truth of Your presence and purpose.  In spite of what happens to me in this world, lead me to learn to be faithful in, through and above all things.  Whatever afflictions may come, guide me to hold fast to You.

Lord Jesus, You know affliction.  The world has hated You from the beginning.  But in You and through You the world is knitted together and has its being.  Let me no longer hold to this world but be transformed by Your goodness and mercy.  Lead me in Your grace to hold fast to You no matter what affliction comes so that I may now and always be known as one who believes in You and all that You have done.  Amen.

Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-3).

We are a part of the communion of saints, the fellowship, those who are in the Lord.  We are called to live in and through our Savior Jesus Christ, doing what He gives us to do.  It is teamwork and we are to work together.  You are a part of the team.  What is it the Lord would have you do?  Live into the life to which you have been called through grace and know that in Him is all life and true liberty.

There are those, Lord, who have come as a part of a larger team and served so that I would hear the Gospel.  Lead me, O Lord, to not be cynical in this age of cynicism, but a willing participant in Your call of grace on my life.  Help me to live in the fellowship where You have placed me.  Teach me to do what You would have me do.  Through all things, guide me in this grace to serve Your church.

Lord Jesus, You banded together Your disciples and then sent them two by two into a hostile world.  Help me to see that I am never alone but guided by You and those whom You send in Your name.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way of truth so that I may now and always be guided by You in the way You would have me go.  Teach me to be faithful and to faithfully share the Gospel with others.  Amen.

“For we wanted to come to you – I, Paul, more than once – and yet Satan hindered us.  For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation?  Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?  For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:18-20).

Do not focus only upon yourselves or what you are doing.  Instead, look to others and see what the Lord is accomplishing.  Do not be guided by the wickedness of this world but be transformed by the goodness of Christ in His mercy.  There are hindrances and the wicked one means them to stop you.  The Lord allows them to teach you to persevere.  Whom will you follow?  The wicked one or the Lord?

Lord, lead my life so that I would not be hindered by anyone or anything.  Guide me in Your goodness to see that in You alone is all hope and the glory of a life lived as You created it to be lived.  Let me be aware of Your presence, walking in this faith knowing that you are leading me.  Through all things, help me to know that it is You alone whom I serve.  I can do all things as You lead me to do them.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is all hope.  You have given grace upon grace and You have made possible the life of faith I have in You.  Lead me this day so that I would humbly walk in Your presence.  Guide me according to Your purposes in order that I would know more fully this day the truth You have revealed.  Let me be as Paul and the other disciples, giving witness of Your presence and purpose in my life.  Amen.

“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while – in person, not in spirit – were all the more eager with great desire to see your face” (1 Thessalonians 2:17).

The communion of saints is a very real thing.  We are connected with other Christians in and through Christ.  Living in this reality is a part of the life of a follower of Jesus.  It does not matter if you do not “feel” it.  It is what the Word says.  Greater is He who is in us so that, in Him, we can do all things.  He will bring to pass all that He has promised.  Trust then in the Lord and walk always in His ways.

Lord, this world wants proof for everything.  The truth is, You have revealed Yourself to me and unless You do so for the one who wants proof, they remain blind and unable to see.  I do not know Your plans, so let me continue to shine the light You have given me.  Guide me in the way of everlasting life that I may now and always be guided by You and not by those who do not believe.

Lord Jesus, author of my faith, guide me today to humbly acknowledge that You are present.  Lead me to act despite how I feel so that I may do what is right and in accordance with the Word You have spoken.  In all things, guide me according to Your never-changing Word in order that I may now and always lead the godly life to which You have called me through the grace You have given me.  Amen.

“They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost” (1 Thessalonians 2:15b-16).

Do not imitate those who hate God.  There are many in this world.  They set the tone of culture and we are tempted to follow their lead.  Follow the lead of the Lord, not those who hate the Lord.  Do not listen to any who tell you anything contrary to the Gospel which you have received through Scripture.  Learn to hear and obey the Word of the Lord and know that in His goodness, He is the One who saves.

Lord, open my ears to hear Your voice.  Help me to be discerning so that I may recognize when those who hate You speak and help me to not listen to their vile words.  Through all things, guide me to be gracious even as You are gracious.  You know all that is needed and have already provided for every need.  Lead me in the way I need to go and then help me to to go there.

Lord Jesus, You have taught us that we are not to hate others.  Let me not hate any, even those who are opposed to You.  But let me also be discerning so that I would be firm in the faith You have given me.  Guide me according to Your purposes in order that I may be led by You in the way of truth.  Help me see more clearly that You alone have given the example of how to live life.  So, help me to live that life.  Amen.