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A Praying Commentary – 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 – Giving Leaders What They Need
TEXT: (CSB) 12) Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, 13) and to regard them very highly in love because of their work….
DEVOTIONAL: Hey kids, when is the last time you thanked your mother for all she does? Husbands and wives, when is the last time you thanked the other for going to work to help support the family, or doing laundry, mowing the yard, and such? Now it might appear these questions have nothing to do with our text, but they do…somewhat. “Give recognition” literally means “to see” then “to perceive”. The idea is “seeing” leads to “knowing” which leads to “saying”. Leaders need to know they are having a positive impact even when their work is sometimes negative (more on that in another devotional). So, congregation, when is the last time you said to an elder, deacon, preacher, teacher, mentor, hard worker, volunteer, even a little child who sets a good example, or whoever has had a spiritual influence on you, “I see you and appreciate you!”? They won’t forget it, but more importantly, they need it.
PRAYER: To the only one who is truly our Leader, we thank you for those given your grace to lead. May our humility overtake our pride to dismantle the idea we are not in need of help. And may our humility again overtake our pride so we can approach those within our spiritual sphere, and say, “Thank you. I need you.”
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