Daily Devotional - A Brand New Week - 1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12        For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.

            It’s a brand new week and hopefully it will be full of new opportunities to share our love of Christ with other people. Some folks think that ministry is something that pastors mainly do on a Sunday, but the fact about our faith is this: we all have personal ministries that God gives to each of us every day.

            At some point this week, someone is going to need our help. It may be at work, at school, at home, or in a public place. Wherever and whenever it happens, let’s hope and pray that we can respond in an encouraging, compassionate, and supportive way. If we do, then we will be honoring Christ and reflecting the goodness that God has given us.

            Paul’s message to the young church in Thessalonica was meant to encourage them. He appreciated the support that the members had given to him when he first came to the small congregation. They helped him to share his faith in positive and effective ways, so that even today, more than nineteen hundred years later, the Christian Church is still present there and effectively ministering to the thousands of Syrian Christian refugees who have recently fled that city.

            So, wherever we are this week, whoever we meet, and whatever we do, let’s also try to be supportive, compassionate, and encouraging in order to help other people, while honoring Christ at the same time.

Questions for personal reflection

What do I hope to accomplish this week? How can I reflect and share Christ’s goodness to those that I encounter?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all called to be servants of Your Kingdom, followers of Your way, and ministers of Your Gospel. Help us to convey our faith to others in effective and lasting ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to send him a message, please send an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Communion drawing called ‘Sanctification.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Sanctification.