Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3
According to BibleHub, “the city of Thessalonica was founded by Cassander, King of Macedon 315 B. C., and was about a hundred miles west of Philippi. It was a great commercial center of Paul’s time, the inhabitants being Greeks, Romans and Jews.
Upon being delivered from prison at Philippi. Paul continued his second missionary journey to Thessalonica, having also Silas and Timothy with him (Acts 17:1-5). He spent three Sabbaths there, but on account of the persecution of the Jews, went from there to Berea, then to Athens, and then to Corinth where he spent 18 months. The first letter bears testimony to the splendid Christian character of these new converts from heathenism.”
Paul had spent three weeks in Thessalonica preaching and teaching and encouraging. In Paul’s opening statement/prayer, he noted that this church was constantly in his prayers. I don’t take it literally because otherwise he’d get nothing else done! Instead, think of it as praying for someone close to you. That person is always on your mind, and you are doing what you can to lift them up in prayer. When someone like that is praying for you, it’s difficult to go astray. For whatever reason, this church was on Paul’s mind and it made an enormous impression on him.
There’s someone (or more than one) in your life who is like this, isn’t there? It could be a child or grandchild, niece or nephew, parent or other relative, or a spouse. Little things throughout the course of your day reminds you of that special someone. You say a brief prayer. Again and again throughout the day.
Think about this. Our Heavenly Father is thinking about us like this. All day every day. Not when something reminds Him of us but every second of every day He’s thinking of you and me. If you need a pick me up or encouragement to get you through this day, remember that.
He’s always thinking of you.