Passage
1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 (KJV)
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
Discussion
It's easy to take for granted the men who quietly carry spiritual responsibility over us. We grow accustomed to their presence, forget the weight they carry, and sometimes even complain rather than give thanks. Paul knew that tendency well, so he wrote to the brethren of the Thessalonian church with a plain and urgent appeal.
The word "know" here carries more than recognition. It suggests an active regard, an awareness of what these men who lead among us actually do. They labor, they oversee, they admonish, and they do all of it "in the Lord." That phrase changes everything. Their authority is not their own; it is derived from Christ and exercised in His name. To receive their ministry well is, in a real sense, to receive the Lord who sent them.
Paul's call to esteem them "very highly in love" carries unusual force in the original. The word behind it means something closer to exceedingly and beyond all measure. This is not polite appreciation; it is a grace-shaped response from a people who understand that faithful shepherds are gifts from God, not earned or deserved, but given in mercy for our good. That esteem, rightly held, produces what Paul adds at the close: peace among ourselves.
The gospel that these leaders faithfully proclaim is the same good news we carry into our daily lives. Those around us may never sit under the ministry of a faithful pastor, but they may sit across from us at work, at a neighbor's table, or in a moment of need. We have Someone to commend to them: the Lord who gave Himself for sinners and who continues to care for His own through the men He places over them. Let us, therefore, walk in that love and peace that the world may see.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, we confess that we do not always give honor where You have appointed it. Thank You for those faithful men who labor among us in the Lord. Give us hearts that receive their care with gratitude, make us a people at peace with one another, and open doors for us to commend the Lord Jesus Christ to those who do not yet know Him. In Jesus' name.
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By JerryS on March 19, 2026 in collaboration with AI: prompted, revised, edited, organized, and formatted by JerryS. For devotional purposes only. All Bible references are from the King James Bible unless otherwise noted.
