THANKFUL FOR HELPERS OF DESTINY

“WE GIVE THANKS to GOD always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers” – 1 Thessalonians 1:2

Believers in Christ ought to be THANKFUL for HELPERS of DESTINY: “WE GIVE THANKS to GOD always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father” (1 The.1:2-3). Paul wrote to tell the Thessalonians how he gave thanks always to God for them, for their work of faith, labour of love, and patience of hope. Paul opened many of his other epistles with the same acknowledgement of giving thanks to God for: Timothy (2Tim.1:3), the Ephesians (Eph.1: 15-16), the Philippians (Phi.1: 3-4), the Colossians (Col.1:3-5), and Philemon (Phil1: 4-5).

In these opening lines, he was literally always recalling to mind and orally expressing gratitude towards God for the good favor, spiritual blessing, and gifts that these “Helpers of Destiny” had brought into his life. The reality is that our life in God and current relationship with Him is the sum total of countless hours of investment by diverse people. Some, we can recall and list and some we may never even know. The word “mention” in this passage means a recollection, a recital, to remind or call to mind. Beloved, when was the last time you and I thanked God for the ‘people’ He had placed in our lives?

It's not strange if we daily thank God for our spouse, children, siblings, and parents. These relationships are like our possessions and badges of identity. While it is good and right to thank God for family and friends, what Paul was remembering before God in these salutations were the many people of God who had been or brought spiritual blessings into his life; who, due to their faith in God, had brought encouragement, hope, love, or sown seed of truth into his life. Let’s endeavor to recollect and list those who have influenced our lives with faith in Christ.

Among our Helpers of Destiny would be: Parents who raised us in church and literally changed our lives; Pastors we’ve had over the years; their spouses who gave up precious family time so their spouse could do the work of ministry; fellow believers who encouraged us as we grew in the things of God, including teachers and ministers in Bible school, Sunday school, and Prayer groups; Ministries that we’ve followed by reading their books or listening to their teachings; and unnamed masses who support financially to make truth available when needed.

These people could have been doing just about anything else with their lives, time, and finances, but they chose to obey God. The Lord has an army of people that He leads and guides to be Gifts of Favour and Blessing in our lives. Paul cultivated a grateful heart towards God for the Helpers of Destiny in his life. We can do the same!