”We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
2 Thessalonians 1:3New International Version (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 1:3 Devotional
Thank God for your Brothers and Sisters
In 2 Thessalonians 1:3, Paul commanded the Thessalonians to “Thank God for their Brothers and Sisters“. Actually, he informed the Thessalonians that they were obligated to thank God for their brothers and sisters.
Paul thanked God for the local churches
Moreover, Paul too most often thanked God for the local churches whenever he could find a reason to thank God for them. He even thanked God for the Corinthian church which was highly carnal. But interestingly, he failed to thank God for the Galatians – I don’t think we should read much into this.
Consequently, Paul was grateful for the Thessalonians’ increasing faith in God, and their expanding love for fellow Christians. He was particularly grateful for what he observed God doing in and among the believers in the city of Thessalonica.
Therefore, Paul thanked God for the faith of the Thessalonians which was growing exceedingly. And He thus had a reason to appreciate God’s work in the Thessalonians.
We ought to be thankful
This consequently implies that you ought to be thankful to God when you see your brothers and sisters growing immensely in their personal faith. Because they would have learned to trust in the Lord at all times (Psalm 62:8) with all of their heart (Proverbs 3:5).
Consequently, your friends would be also courageous to do what the Lord instructs them to do (1 Peter 5:8-9, Matthew 6:33, and Galatians 6:1). Because strength and courage are a necessity for Christians (Joshua 1). And they are a commendable virtue in a Christian (2 Peter 1:3-7).
Additionally, thank God for brethren whose love is abounding! Paul thanked God for “everyone” of the Thessalonians for abounding in love. Meaning that it is always encouraging to see brethren who genuinely care about the needs of others.
Moreover, apostle Peter, when penning his second letter, highlighted brotherly love as a quality to add to our faith (2 Peter 1:3-7). And brotherly love is the love that mirrors the love that is in families – it is a family-like affection (1 Peter 1:22, Galatians 6:10, and John 13:35).
Grow and abound in brotherly love
Therefore, let us all be diligent to grow and abound in love (2 Peter 1:5-7). This is how we will be able to love and take care of others.
Prayer/Blessing
Father, thank You for loving me and transforming me into Your image. Search my heart and mind today. And help me to love my brothers, sisters, and others the way You love me in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
Daily Bible Reading
1 John 1-3 (see How to Read the Bible in One Year or How to Read the Bible (for Beginners))
