1 Thessalonians – Week 7 – Day 5

READ 

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 

12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. 

After writing about things to come, Paul wrote about how to treat others in the church fellowship. The “leaders in the Lord’s work” would refer to the elders in the group as this was before the time of paid clergy. The leaders were to be shown “great respect and wholehearted love because of their work.” Paul’s plea was also that believers would live peacefully with each other. 

REFLECT 

How are you doing in regard to what Paul instructed the Thessalonian believers? How are you treating the leaders in your local fellowship? Do you have a good attitude toward them? Are you living peacefully with others in the group? 

RESPOND 

Do you wonder how the watching world will know that a group of believers are Christ-followers? Read John 13:34-35. Talk with your friend about this passage. Do those in your community think the people in your fellowship are truly disciples of Jesus? What do you think some might say if you took a survey?