Proper 27 (NT)

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace.
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001 (1 Th 1:1-10). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

St Paul prays for the church in Thessaloniki even as he writes to them and knows their great faith. Often times I think about prayer lists and who is on our prayer lists. Jesus teaches the disciples to pray the Lord's prayer. St Paul talks about praying for the saints in specific cities.

But I always seem to come down to one basic question: "How sick does one have to be to be put on a prayer list?" Often times people who are in nursing homes or even shut in are not all that sick compared to the younger person in the hospital. The one going through cancer treatment but not the care giver who has to deal with the struggle of time, energy, and even spiritual drain. But St Paul prayers for all these people in this church.

Should we not just put our membership roles on the prayer list. Not just praying for the people who are struggling now, but those people who will face dangers in the coming weeks, months and years. Pray for the saint that is not quite sure of their sainthood. Pray for those who are cleaning the church, doing their duty, following their vocation and preparing for their dark days.

St Paul says he is constantly praying for the Saints in Thessaloniki. Pray for the members of your congregation (all of them). Prayer for the members of churches else where. Pray Jesus will deliver all of us from the wrath to come. Pray God will lead us all to repentance. Pray everyone in your community will hear the gospel truth and live.