Giving Thanks and Praying 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Paul the apostle heard the church in Thessalonica was doing well and prospering, so he wrote a letter to them where he shared concerning the return of the Lord Jesus, and provided some correction to the church. He began his letter with a typical Pauline greeting of “grace and peace”, and in chapter one and verse two, Paul shares how he gives “thanks” for them and was “praying” for them as well. We read:

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

The verse begins, “We give thanks to God always for you all,...” Paul began with, “We give thanks” or “was grateful or feel thankful” “to God” who is “the Godhead and trinity which includes God the Father, Christ Jesus the Son, and the Holy Spirit” “always” which means “at all times and ever” “for you all” or “about, concerning, on account of, around and near every individual within the church”. Paul was grateful to God for the people who attended the church in Thessalonica.

The verse continues, “...making mention of you in our prayers;” Paul continued, “making mention” or “acting, carrying out and spending memories, recollecting and reciting” “of you” which refers to “the church members” “in our prayers” which means “addresses and earnest oratory words unto God”. In addition to being grateful for the people within the church of Thessalonica, Paul “always” kept them in his prayers.

When we meditate upon Paul's words, we can sense the compassion he had upon the people in the church of Thessalonica. Not only did he thank God for them, but he prayed for them as well. Paul knew how valuable the members of the Thessalonian church were to God, and talking to God about them was his priority. What about us? Do we have those in our lives for whom we give thanks to God? Do we often “mention” them in our prayers? Perhaps the application of this scripture will be found in making a list of people for whom we are thankful, and when we are reminded of them, perhaps we will attribute to them no greater value than to bring them before the Lord Jesus in our prayers.

Next time we will see Paul remembers the Thessalonians' “faith, labor and patience”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

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