READ 1 Thessalonians 1
The Thessalonians follow Paul’s life example and grow to spiritual maturity.

INSIGHT
Because the Christian life is more easily caught than taught, personal godliness is a powerful ministry tool, and imitation is a powerful tool for spiritual growth. Paul gave the Thessalonians not just the words of the Gospel, but also his very life - “you know what kind of men we were among you” (v. 5). The Thessalonian believers witnessed Paul’s life and imitated him, which resulted in spiritual growth for them - “you became imitators of us and the Lord” (v. 6). As a result, they became an example to the Macedonians and Achaians. This pattern of “life-on-life” ministry was first demonstrated by our Lord. Jesus selected 12 men “that they might be with Him” (Mark 3:14). Take a moment to think about how you can learn from or teach someone else in a mentoring relationship.

PRAYER
Praise God that He is our perfect example:
Then David blessed the Lord
In the sight of all the assembly.
David said, may you be blessed,
Lord God of our father Israel,
From eternity to eternity.
Yours, Lord, is the greatness
And the power and the glory
And the splendor and the majesty,
For everything in the heavens
And on earth belongs to you.
Yours, Lord, is the kingdom,
And you are exalted as head over all
(1 Chronicles 29:10-11).

Pause for praise and thanksgiving. Now pray this confession to the Lord as you seek to keep your life free from sin:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in faithful love.  
As a father has compassion on his children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear him.  
For he knows what we are made of,
Remembering that we are dust
(Psalm 103:8, 13-14).

Confess any sins that the Holy Spirit brings to your mind. Now pray this affirmation to the Lord:
So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. For we walk by faith, not by sight. In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6-8).

As you make your requests known to the Lord, include:

• Health and strength to serve Him
• His will to be done in your life
• Whatever else is on your heart

Finally, offer this prayer to the Lord:
Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus — the great Shepherd of the sheep — through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20-21).