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.   

“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.