Notes of Faith November 26, 2024
Entire Chapters of Gratitude
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.
1 Thessalonians 1:2
Entire chapters of the Bible are devoted to gratitude. Some of the Psalms, for example, are simply lists of gratitude, such as Psalm 103. That’s the nature of the first chapter of 1 Thessalonians. The apostle Paul had been driven out of the city of Thessalonica before he could get the new church grounded and established. He grew more and more concerned to know how they were doing, especially in the face of persecution. So he sent Timothy to find out, and Timothy brought back a great report. The Thessalonian Christians were thriving.
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and [a]steadfastness of hope [b]in our Lord Jesus Christ before our God and Father, 4 knowing, brothers beloved by God, your election, 5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full assurance; just as you know what kind of men we [c]proved to be among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of an entrance we had [d]with you, and how you turned to God from [e]idols to serve [f]a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from [g]heaven, whom He raised from the dead, Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
Every verse in 1 Thessalonians 1 is a descriptor of Paul’s gratitude toward them.
We’re often concerned in life. All kinds of issues leave us anxious and restless. But devoting entire prayers or journal entries to thanksgiving is a wonderful way to recover our spirits. Being thankful helps us look within and see our growth and the traces of God in our lives. Make a list of the things or people in your life for which you’re thankful and praise God for them.
Thanksgiving leads to knowing God more fully, which leads to trusting in God more, worshiping God more, and loving God more.
Dustin Crowe
A delayed flight yesterday made it impossible to make the last connecting flight to California, so I sit in the airport in Dallas today for several hours awaiting a second missed connecting flight due to mechanical delays on our plane this morning at 5 a.m… This is life. We all must be able to deal with these issues and continue to do what we have be called to do. Unlike the passenger in front of me who kept shouting expletives and shouting at the passengers in front of him to get moving. It did nothing but scare those around him and likely raised his blood pressure. We all had places to be and were late if plans had been previously made. All this to say…It gave me time to reflect on so many of my friends (you), and ask God to bless you today for your influence in my life. Thank you! If God wills, I will be in California today (sometime) and continue the routines that are what I consider “normal”, all while dealing with the unexpected, unplanned, and some good, some not so good, but God is good all the time and will provide all that is needed by His grace. Love God! Love others!
Pastor Dale