Let Us Be Thankful for Our Church – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

The Apostle Paul, directly and indirectly, participated in the planting of about twenty churches. One of those churches was the church in Thessalonica. The true church is called by God to gather as kingdom citizens to fulfill the Great Commission. The church in Thessalonica was aligned with these marks of a true church called by Christ. In today’s text, the Apostle Paul addresses in his letter that he and others always give thanks to God.  The Thessalonian church was characterized as a sanctifying, genuine, and better church.

God worked to sanctify the Thessalonian church even in the midst of persecution. The response of this church in their circumstance was through the work of faith and labor of love and perseverance of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ (v 3). This church was a constantly transforming church bearing much fruit.

The Thessalonian church was a genuine church elected and beloved by God (v 4). As God chose them before the foundation of the world, this church was passionate and focused to the will of God. It is the real church that loves God and hates sin.

The church in Thessalonica was also the model church to other believers in Macedonia and Achaia (v 7). They were better than other churches. Jesus, Himself makes mention of good and bad churches in the Book of Revelation. What makes one church better than others is its commitment and imitation of Christ and the apostles (v 6). With an honest heart, they held firmly to the apostle’s teachings by bearing fruit even in severe persecution. Moreover, they fixed their eyes on the joy of the Holy Spirit that continued steadily.

 The Apostle Paul also mentions giving thanks and praying for all of them; that is, all the members of the church. Each believer is appointed by God thereby making all of them important to pray and be thankful for. No one is to be left behind and remind each other of the importance of every member for the life of the church.

Gratitude is demonstrated in prayer. The Apostle Paul had an unceasing self-interest in the church of Christ.  In the same manner, intercessory prayer is vital to the life of the members of the church. Putting on God’s mind and his perspective allows each believer to understand his love and sacrifice for the church. Therefore, every believer is to pray for their brothers and sisters in intercessory prayer as Jesus continues to do so at the right hand of the Father.