“For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out” (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15a).  

Tradition has always been a big part of how the church does what it does.  We do imitate someone as we move through life.  The question is, are we imitating the right things, or should I say, the right one?  Paul encourages us to imitate the church at ground zero, that is, the church which adapted what was done when Jesus walked the earth.  Remember, Jesus did not come to do away with, but fulfil what had been established.

Lord, let me neither shun all tradition, nor see tradition be my all in all, but let me not try to reinvent things so that I do nothing.  Guide me in Your goodness in order that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Lead me in Your grace and mercy to do what is right always and imitate those things which are good. Show me what is good so that I may imitate it.

Lord Jesus, You said that only the Father is good, but You and the Father are One.  Lead me to imitate the goodness You demonstrated so that I may learn from You what is right behavior.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth and help me to learn to respect how things have been done by others.  Through all of this life, lead me in the upward way so that I may ultimately imitate You in order to become like You.  Amen.

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe” (1 Thessalonians 2:13).

For it truly is the Word of God.  How many in this world argue over whether or not they believe God has definitively spoken?  Look, either this is the Word of God, or else it is not.  If you do not believe, then leave well enough alone.  But if you do, well then, learn to listen, for God has spoken.  Anything short of not fully listening is disobedience.

Lord, You have opened my eyes to see and my ears to hear. The world tells me all kinds of things which are contrary to Your Word.  Let me hear as You speak and then respond to what You say.  Guide me in Your goodness that I would apply these things which You have given me to my life.  In You alone is all hope.  In You alone is salvation.  You have given us Your words of Law and Gospel.  Help me to apply them.

Lord Jesus, You have come speaking the Word of truth.  Guide me, O Lord, in all truth and help me apply Your truth in my life.  Let me be bold, but not arrogant.  Let me be forthright, but kind and meek.  Let me be what You intend so that Your Word would be fulfilled.  Teach me to reject the lies of this world and accept the truth which You speak.  In and through all things, speak to me that I may hear and respond in faith.  Amen.

“Just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children, so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12).

Walking worthy is not the same as being worthy.  One of the things Scripture reminds us of time and again is to begin the journey in faith as if.  As if we were worthy.  As if we were like Christ.  As if we were able to move mountains.  This is not a call to arrogance, but a call to being faithful.  Too many are intimidated by this world rather than standing boldly in the promise of Christ.

Scripture often reminds us to put on Christ.  We put on the One who will transform us from the old into the new.  This is a part of the process.  Be led by the One who leads and go where He leads you.  Know that in Him is all life.  In Him is liberty.  Be guided by the One who is more than able to grow you into His likeness.  He will make of you what He has always intended.

Come, Lord Jesus, and as I take You upon myself, hold me fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Guide me in Your goodness to know that You will accomplish what You have promised.  Lead me to understand that I can do all that You have promised because You have accomplished salvation for all who believe.  Bring me in faith to truly believe all that You have promised.  Amen.

“You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers” (1 Thessalonians 2:10)

You are witnesses.  You are the ones who have heard the Gospel and followed the Lord.  Do you live your life as a witness?  When you have seen something amazing, do you not share it?  You are a witness of the most amazing thing of all.  Do you not share it?  This is spoken to us again and again that we might not hide what we have been given but share this life of Christ which is ours and to be shared with all whom we meet.

In this world, we are told to mind our own business.  This is usually said by someone who is not minding their own business but attempting to mind ours.  The Lord has called us into His eternal presence.  The Lord has given us His goodness and mercy. The Lord asks that we respond by living uprightly and blamelessly in a world gone mad.  Live as one who follows the Lord and your behavior will gain attention.

Lord, You know what I need.  You know what stands in the way.  You know where I need to go.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I would follow You wherever You go.  Help me to live by Your example and as You are teaching me to live.  Guide me to behave consistently, whether in public or private, so that how my life is lived may provide an example and be an encouragement for others.  Amen.

“For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:9).

If it is at all possible, do not be a burden to anyone.  Think how this is so different in our day where there is an expectation that others will do for us rather than us seeking to do what we can for others.  We are blessed with abilities; so take advantage of what the Lord has given you and do all you can, and in so doing, share the Gospel through the action of your life.  The Lord has invited You to be a partner in the sharing of the Gospel.

Lord, I do often reflect the culture rather than You.  Lead me to see that You have given me my part in the Gospel and that I too can share the Gospel without being a burden on others.  Lead me into how I can do this.  Show me where I do not need to do this.  Through Your grace, help me to live more consistently in the calling You have given me through grace.  May Your Gospel dwell fully in me.

Lord Jesus, You have given us Your all.  You died so that we might be set free from the recompense of sin.  Help me live with the same commitment, giving my all, for even if I would be tempted to hold back, remind me to ask, “For what purpose?”  Through all that comes my way, guide me into a life that is wholly Yours.  Help me see the truth You have revealed and live it in the presence of others.  Amen.

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.  Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8).

The ultimate goal, as far as we are able to see, is the relationships that are built as a result of the Gospel taking root.  It is not accomplishing some big venture, but building up the family of God in Christ and by His grace.  Come then and live into the life to which You have been called.  Know that in Him is true life and that He will knit You into His family, His bride, the church.

Lord, help me to see the greater things and live into the hope which is mine in You.  Guide me into the depths of understanding You offer by Your Spirit so that I may be guided by You and not by the world.  Help me to hold dear those amidst You place me in order that I may live in the relationships You are establishing.  Through all these things, accomplish in me what You intend so that I may always be Yours and You, mine.

Thank You, Jesus, for the gift of family.  You are knitting together Your family, Your bride, the church.  Let me never buy into the nonsense that fellowship does not matter.  It is the thing You are doing.  Guide me to learn how to be faithful and live into this life You are giving me.  Help me now and always to see through the ways of the world and to live according to the way You are teaching me.  Amen. 

“For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness – nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, even though as apostles of Christ we might have asserted our authority” (1 Thessalonians 2:5-6).

Pay attention to what people want.  They will tell what they are thinking by what they are doing and revealing what they are after.  The Gospel is something to be given away.  One who receives it does so without any expectation.  One must do nothing to receive the Good News.  We might well assert authority, but that is not necessary.  Learn and be wise.  See that the Lord gives you the greatest gift freely.

Lord, grant that I would learn wisdom.  You show me these things and I often go on ignoring them and then wishing I had learned the lesson.  Teach me that others will reveal who they really are by what they do and what they are after.  Let me be one who seeks You and Your righteousness and nothing else.  That is enough for this world.  Help me to learn the lessons I need to learn in order to be one who follows You.

Lord Jesus, You came into the world not expecting the world to give You anything.  You gave away Yourself the whole time You were here, ending with the greatest gift of all by paying the price we could not pay for our salvation.  Lead me by Your example to live by Your example and not in the way of the world, which always wants something.  Lead me Lord so that I may follow You.  Amen.

“For our exhortation does not come from error or impurity or by way of deceit; but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts” (1 Thessalonians 2:3-4).

We need not use words that are clever, or in any way deceitful, but always speak the truth in love.  Those who have ears to hear, will hear.  The sheep know the voice of the shepherd.  You have heard the voice of Jesus and it does not matter who delivered what you have heard.  Listen to the voice of the Master and walk in the faith that you have been given by Him.  In the One who made life is there the hope of true life.

Lord, open my ears to hear when You speak.  Let me not look at the one who is speaking, but to You who gifts those whom You choose to exhort on Your behalf.   Guide me in all truth and grant discerning ears so that I would not fall prey to those who speak deceit.  Let my heart stir whenever truth is spoken.  Use my mouth to speak Your word as a witness in the world.

Lord Jesus, Word of God made flesh, lead me in holiness, that by Your example, I would live a life befitting one who was been called in Your grace. Guide me, O Lord, and help me to willingly follow.  Lead me now and always in the way of truth.  Lord Jesus, You are Truth and only in following You can I know the way.  Guide me this day in all truth so that I may forever be found in You.  Amen.

“For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, but after we had already suffered and been mistreated in Philippi, as you know, we had the boldness in our God to speak to you the gospel of God amid much opposition” (1 Thessalonians 2:1-2).

The world is hostile to the Gospel.  It does take boldness, even in our day, to speak the Gospel.  Live the life of faith to which you have been called and do so boldly.  Those who actually live by faith are evident.  Remember that the faith is caught and then comes the teaching.  The Lord does send His messengers, and then those who will follow after Him.  Be bold and live by faith.

Lord, teach me to do whatever is needed so that I might truly live by faith.  Do not let me be timid, nor apologetic in my faith, but bold in all things.  Guide me in the way I need to go and help me to never consider the cost, for who could compare to the price You paid on the cross?  Let my living not be in vain, but use my witness as You will, knowing that You are working all things together for good for those who love You.

Lord Jesus, in the example You gave through Your life, death, and resurrection, Help me to be consistent in the living of my faith.  Guide me this day in order that I would hold fast to the truth You have revealed once for all.  Help me to live according to what You have taught me.  Help me to be bold in the Spirit so that I would be a witness of the faith You have given me now and forever.  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).

Where is your hope and in what do you rejoice.  Yes, you have been given the promised redemption in grace, but do you not rejoice at the work of the Lord in your midst?  Are you a part of what He is doing, or, like the world, do you focus upon yourself?  Be freed of the world’s way of seeing things and come join in the salvation that is present amongst the saints of the Lord.

Lord, grant that I may have a larger view of things.  Open my eyes to see what You are doing and then give me the inclination to join You.  Lead me, O Lord, so that I may now and always look to You and look away from the world for my inspiration.  Through You and in You is all hope.  Let me glory in the work You are doing through those I see around me who are doing what is pleasing to You.

Come, Holy Spirit, and minister to me so that I may be open to the reality of Your work here and around the world.  Help me to join with the angels in rejoicing every time one sinner repents and joins in our midst.  Guide me to have an outward-looking heart, loving all people, and learning to love as You love.  Guide me this day in order that I may see and rejoice in all that is happening around me in and through Christ my Savior.  Amen.