“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 real thing that exists between all who believe and from every tribe, tongue, folk, and nation.  The Lord is knitting together His bride, the church.  Yes, every time we meet at the Lord’s table, we join with all who are a part of the body, but what Paul is saying is that although a photograph is nice, being there in person is much, much better.

Lord, Sometimes I over-spiritualize these things and do not see them for what they are.  Guide me, O Lord, that I may see in all of Your Word the truth that You are amidst a new creation through all of those who are united with You by the way of the cross.  Lead me to follow more clearly the way You have set before me.  Grow in me that which You intend and help me to learn to rejoice with all of Your saints.

Lord Jesus, You have paved the way for all who come in faith through grace to be a part of the communion of saints.  Help me see that I am connected across time and space to those who are a part of Your body.  Lead me so that I would remain connected and rejoice with the union of all of Your saints wherever and whenever that may happen.  In You is all hope and the promise of eternity.  Amen.

“The Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out.  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 2:15-16).

Who are the Jews?  They are not a group who follow a certain ancient religion.  In this case, they go by many names, but they are the ones who want you to fit into their ideal.  They do not leave anything alone, but are constantly meddling.  Do not be a bigot, but neither tolerate the ones who are driving towards the gates of hell.  Look to the Lord and be saved.  Know the Lord and know goodness.

Lord, keep me close to You so that I would not be swayed by those who would lead me astray.  Let me not be caught up by those who demand conformity to their ideals.  Help me to remain free in You in order that I may walk with You now and forever.  The wrath of death because of sin has already been poured out.  Keep me from that wrath knowing that You have paid the price so that I may be set free from sin.

Lord Jesus, in You alone is all hope.  You came to set free as many as would believe that You have come to redeem us from sin’s recompense.  Lead me along with all who faithfully look to You that together we may be guided in Your Spirit in all goodness.  Help me to live into this life You have given me, being conformed to Your image as You make of me a child of the Heavenly Father.  Amen.

“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” (1 Thessalonians 2:14)

Being an imitator is, in many ways, how things are done.  We imitate others and call it being fashionable.  We imitate others and call it being contemporary.  In this case, they imitated the church and received the same persecution.  Do we not begin our years of growing by imitating what we see in adults?  Come then and join in imitating Christ that you may be conformed to Him.

Lord, this is not a foreign concept.  I do it all the time.  Help me to see that I indeed need do this.  Guide me so that I may learn to put You on and become more like You each day.  Lead me, O Lord, in the way I need to be led.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may learn to follow.  In all things, help me to conform to what is right and good.  Keep me from being conformed to those things which are neither profitable, nor good.

Lord Jesus, You must lead the way.  Guide me, Lord, in order that I may follow wherever You lead.  Help me through the obstacles that will come in my way.  In and through all things, may I be found wholly in You, living into the life to which You have called me through grace and given by faith.  Regardless of what will come, continue always being my help and stay throughout each day. 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).

Listen carefully to these words, for they apply to all of Scripture.  “You received them not as the word of men, but as the word of God.  Ultimately, you will either believe the Lord has spoken to you, or else you will not.  It does make a difference.  Come then in the truth spoken by the Lord to you and always walk in His ways.  Be thankful the Lord has awakened you to the truth of salvation.

Lord, open my ears to hear so that I may live into the life You have promised me through faith.  Guide me, O Lord, in this way of truth in order that I may now and always abide in You and You in me.  Open my heart to receive the fulness of grace and mercy won through Your sacrifice on the cross.  Guide me, Lord, so that I may now and always walk in Your goodness and mercy.

Lord Jesus, You have paid the price of our redemption so that all who hear Your voice may be grafted into the family You are knitting together in grace.  Guide me this day, O Lord, that I would now and forever look to You as the model of the godly life.  Continue to strengthen me in the gift of faith.  Continue to lead me in the way I need to go.  Continue that I may live forever giving thanks for all You have done.  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).

This does not say you must be worthy, it says to walk in a manner as though you were worthy.  We are all walking the path toward being like Christ, but would any dare say they are already there?  The Lord is calling you forward and has empowered you in Christ to accomplish what He intends.  Come then in the exhortations you have received and walk with and in Him always.

Lord, I still have much to learn.  You have sent those who would help me in this life.  Help me to remember all of the good things I have received that I might continue in the life of faith You have given me by grace.  Guide me always to walk according to Your goodness, leading me to the place where I live as Your child.  Whatever it takes, keep me moving in that direction, dear Lord.

Lord Jesus, You knew the price You would have to pay in order to enable each one of us to journey in the direction of becoming like You.  Guide me, dear Lord, in the way of everlasting life in order that I would now and forever walk according to the precepts You have given all of us.  Lead me to be steadfast, learning how to walk in the way which is worthy of the calling I have received by grace through faith.  Amen.

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

“Devoutly, uprightly, and blamelessly we are to do the work the Lord gives us to do.  It is not just a matter of sitting in a pew at worship, going to a few fellowship events, and maybe serving on a committee or two.  It is about having lives that are dedicated to the Lord as He dedicated His life to us.  Come into His presence and dwell with Him forever.  Do what He gives You to do.

Lord, this sounds so simple, but I often have things that get in the way.  Guide me, O Lord, that these things that get in the way would be removed so that I live the true Gospel.  Help me now and always, Lord, for You have given me the words of eternal life and apart from You I can do nothing.  In the truth You have spoken from the beginning, teach me to serve others as You have served me.

Lord Jesus, servant and Master of all, guide me by Your example to put into practice this day the ministry You have given me.  Lead me so that I may take Your Good News to others in order that they may receive what You have given me.  Guide me, Lord, and give me a willing heart to follow where You lead.  Teach me the truth and I will live in the freedom You alone give.  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).

Are you one who takes or gives?  Many come in need and we are to give.  The day comes when that role is reversed somewhat.  We all are in need and rely upon the Lord, but He equips us to send us that we would share with others what we have received.  Go then as the Lord leads and learn from Him that You might hear His voice and love others as He has loved you.

Lord, I need to learn so that I would follow You and not the way of the world.  The world teaches me to take all I can get.  You teach me to love others as You love them.  Guide me Lord so that I would learn these things and serve, and not be a burden to others, but carry the burdens of others.  Teach me to proclaim the Gospel with my life.  Grant what is needed so that I would be approved as a worker of the Gospel.

Lord Jesus, You came to serve and not to be served.  By Your example, You healed the sick, fed the hungry, and raised the dead.  You loved into the disciples the truth of the Gospel and went to the cross for us all.  Help me to model Your example by breaking out of my shell and working alongside others with the truth of the Gospel.  Lead me, O Lord, in order that I may follow where You lead.  Amen.

“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 2:8).

How invested are you in the lives of others?  The Lord created us to be in relationship, first with Him and then with others.  Do you care for those around you?  Not just your family, but also the family of God that He has placed you in?  Be a willing participant in all that He is doing knowing that He is growing in you the likeness of Christ.  You were created in His image and He is making of you a child of the heavenly family.

Lord, help me to see with simplicity the truth that You have revealed through grace.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of truth in order that I would now and forever walk humbly in the path You have put before me.  Guide me, Lord, in the way You would have me go and help me to hold fast in those steps I take throughout the day.  You must lead and I must learn to follow.

Lord Jesus, You are the author and finisher of my faith.  Guide me, Lord, in the way of faith.  Help me to take each step as You direct and live into the life that is in relationship with those around me.  In Your Spirit, enliven in me the goal of my faith, which is to become what You are making of me.  Save me this day and lead me in the way of everlasting life.  Amen.

“But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children” (1 Thessalonians 2:7).

Paul continues the word picture of one who freely gives to another and not for gain, but in order to nurture the other in true life.  This is how the good infection of Christianity is spread.  Through the goodness of God’s grace and mercy, we receive the salvation He alone purchased for us from the cross.  Learn from the Lord and be one who nurtures others in the faith that you have received.

Lord, this world is so conditional, to the point that often I am skeptical about what another wants when they are doing a good deed.  Help me, O Lord, to live into the life of faith that You have given me and teach me to nurture others as I have been nurtured.  Guide me, Lord, in this way so that I may mature in faith and learn to take on the role You have in mind for me in my ministry.

Lord Jesus, You prepared the disciples and then sent them into the world to serve You as they served others.  You intend the same for me.  Help me to not be a consumer of the faith, as so many are in this culture, but one who lives the faith, sharing with others as You have shared with me.  Guide me in the ministry You give me in order that I may humbly walk with You my Savior and live into the life of faith You have given 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).

When you do what you do, what is it that motivates you?  Are you doing what you are doing for gain?  This is something to meditate upon.  The Lord came to set you free, but whether you accept that freedom and walk with Him is up to you.  There is no condition on accepting Him.  But then, walk with Him and do the same for others as the Lord has done for you.  The Lord alone saves and He gives salvation away.

Lord, help me to understand this simple principle.  Guide me in the way of salvation so that I may now and always live without conditions.  You have freely forgiven me.  Help me to freely give the Good News away through all I do and with who I am.  Guide me in the way of living this new life and help me not to seek glory, but to live in obedience according to Your eternal Word.

Lord Jesus, You have come into the world in order that I may have life and have it abundantly.  I received this gift freely and You send me into the world to freely give it away.  Guide me, O Lord, in the way of life such that I may be unconditional in my service to You.  It matters not what I think I deserve, help me to live knowing that I do not deserve the mercy You give me or the grace which I receive. Amen.