Grateful and Prayerful for God's People

Paul rejoices over the good news that accompanies this letter as he hears how well the church is doing, even in difficult times.  As you remember, Paul planted the church as recorded in Acts 17.1-9.  In the brief time he was there he saw faith and love born in these people through the preaching of the gospel, he saw the power of the Spirit convicting them of sin as they turned away from worshipping idols. Reading through this letter, one cannot help but see Paul’s affectionate care for them as he describes himself as gentle with them as a nursing mother to her own children to them.  Paul’s heart was not simply filled with affection but also concern over this young church which eventuated in him sending Timothy to establish, exhort and to warn them to persevere. After giving thanks, he turns to prayer. Consider how the role of thankfulness in the fellowship of the saints leads to prayer.  If longing and laboring are foundations of biblical fellowship, thankfulness and prayer are the fruit of it.