1 Thessalonians 1:2—“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers.”
Paul begins his letter with heartfelt gratitude. Though young, the Thessalonian church had grown under the weight of affliction, facing pressure from both the surrounding pagan culture and hostile Jews. Yet Paul’s heart instinctively rises in thanksgiving to God for them. This is far more than courtesy; it is theology breathing through the life of a shepherd who recognises God’s grace in His flock. Every spark of spiritual life is evidence of God’s sovereign work, and thus, thanksgiving becomes Paul’s natural response.
His gratitude is constant—“always.” He carries the church continually before the Lord, thanking God not only for their existence as His redeemed people but also for the evident fruit of the gospel in their lives. Each believer stands as a testimony that the gospel is alive and powerful.
In verse 3, Paul highlights their “work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” These virtues reveal lives unmistakably shaped by divine grace. Their perseverance under trial and their steadfast hope testify that God’s electing love is active in and through them—chosen before time, preserved in time, and destined for glory.
Paul’s words invite us to examine how we view the church. Do we first see flaws, or do we first see grace? Thanksgiving cultivates honour toward God’s people, reminding us they are His workmanship. As Paul interceded with gratitude, so we are called to pray for fellow believers as gifts of grace entrusted to our care.
