Press the play button to watch the video above or press 'more' to read the transcript of the daily devotion below. Please read 1 Thessalonians 2:7-12 (use your own Bible or use the link above to access the in-App Bible).

‘So deeply do we care for you that we are determined to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you have become very dear to us.’

1 Thessalonians 2:8

When I arrived in Colne as Rector of Saint Bartholomew and Holy Trinity, I received many messages of encouragement. One particularly stood out, from a priest who had served in Colne from 2009-2012. He arrived after a period of severe depression, and he wrote: ‘I still miss Colne and its lovely people more than anywhere I’ve been. They literally loved me better.’

This has remained with me over the past three years and become evident, as I have witnessed the power of a church who loves those who Christ calls home. I’ve seen people healed and transformed by God’s gift of salvation, but it’s taken the love of a church to help them to ‘take-hold’ of their new status, as a beloved child of God. Deep care and affection for God’s people is the identity of a ‘Spirit-filled’ Church.

We can be tempted to subscribe to a very individualistic faith, but biblical salvation always looks like ‘new-life’ in a new family, the family of God. Paul shows this through his words of tenderness, affection and commitment to the Thessalonians. His brothers and sisters, beloved by God.

V.7 - Like a nurse tenderly caring for her own children…

V.8 - So we deeply care for you…

V.8 - You have become very dear to us…

V.12 - Urging and encouraging …

Paul uses familial terms here: mother, father, brother, and sister because Church at its best feels like a family, a place where love abounds. As a father of three daughters, I pray for my children to come to a saving faith in Jesus Christ, but I also pray that they will love His church dearly.

I pray that our church feels like home to them. I pray those people will be to them a family who loves them through every stage and situation of life. I pray they feel safe, welcome and known by the members of our church, brothers and sisters in Christ. And above all, I pray that the church’s love will witness to the greatest love, the love of a Saviour, Jesus Christ the hope of the world.

Who can you pray this for?

The Revd Alex Oehring, Rector of Colne, St Bartholomew and Holy Trinity.