1 Thessalonians 1:1-5
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. – 1 Thessalonians 1:5
Cick to read
On the first day of 2026, many of us naturally ask the same question: How should I begin this year? Should I set new plans? Should I try harder to stick to them with more self-discipline? Do I tell myself again, “This year must be different”?
When Paul begins his first letter to the Thessalonian church, he does not start with commands or expectations. He starts with a simple greeting: “Grace to you and peace.” (v1)
Let the new year begin by remembering God’s grace.
We are very quick to place our hope in ourselves. We think that if we try harder, become more disciplined, or grow more spiritual, the year will go better and smoother. But reality does not take long to disappoint us. Plans fall apart. Our emotions rise and fall. Our faith feels unstable. We realise that we are not as reliable as we thought we were.
Paul thanks God, not because the Thessalonian church was so successful, but because God was at work among them. “For our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (v5)
This does not mean they heard a more convincing message than others. It means that when the gospel came to them, God himself worked in their hearts by his power and the Holy Spirit. He opened their eyes, changed them from within, and gave them a faith that no longer depended on themselves—a faith rooted in the assurance that they were loved, chosen, and accepted by God.
That is why they could live out “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” (v3). Not because they held tightly to God, but because God first held tightly to them.
We need to return to this same grace today. We live in a high-pressure world. At work, we are measured by performance. In school, by results. At home, by responsibilities and financial concerns. Even in church, spiritual habits and ministry can quietly turn into performance. Over time, we begin to prove our worth by our outcomes, and measure God’s acceptance by how well we think we are doing spiritually.
But the foundation of the gospel is this: God loves us, chooses us, and calls us—not because we deserve it, but because Jesus has already done everything for us. Because Christ is faithful and unchanging, we can have a steady hope that carries us through ordinary, repetitive, and even difficult days, as we continue to live by faith and love. At the start of 2026, challenges will still come but our hope is not empty. Weakness is still real but grace is more real. You are not facing the new year alone. You are called, kept, and led by grace into a year lived with God’s presence. Reflection: In your life right now—whether in work, studies, family, or the place where you feel most discouraged—where do you see yourself relying on your own strength just to get by? And today, what is one specific thing the Holy Spirit is inviting you to trust and hand back to Jesus? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for beginning this new year with grace. We confess that we often try to prove our worth on our own, and we easily grow discouraged in our weakness. Dear Lord, turn our eyes back to you, and let the saving grace of Jesus Christ be the foundation of our faith. Whatever lies ahead, give us a patient and steady hope as we walk through this year in your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Cick to read
On the first day of 2026, many of us naturally ask the same question: How should I begin this year? Should I set new plans? Should I try harder to stick to them with more self-discipline? Do I tell myself again, “This year must be different”?
When Paul begins his first letter to the Thessalonian church, he does not start with commands or expectations. He starts with a simple greeting: “Grace to you and peace.” (v1)
Let the new year begin by remembering God’s grace.
We are very quick to place our hope in ourselves. We think that if we try harder, become more disciplined, or grow more spiritual, the year will go better and smoother. But reality does not take long to disappoint us. Plans fall apart. Our emotions rise and fall. Our faith feels unstable. We realise that we are not as reliable as we thought we were.
Paul thanks God, not because the Thessalonian church was so successful, but because God was at work among them. “For our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.” (v5)
This does not mean they heard a more convincing message than others. It means that when the gospel came to them, God himself worked in their hearts by his power and the Holy Spirit. He opened their eyes, changed them from within, and gave them a faith that no longer depended on themselves—a faith rooted in the assurance that they were loved, chosen, and accepted by God.
That is why they could live out “work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope” (v3). Not because they held tightly to God, but because God first held tightly to them.
We need to return to this same grace today. We live in a high-pressure world. At work, we are measured by performance. In school, by results. At home, by responsibilities and financial concerns. Even in church, spiritual habits and ministry can quietly turn into performance. Over time, we begin to prove our worth by our outcomes, and measure God’s acceptance by how well we think we are doing spiritually.
But the foundation of the gospel is this: God loves us, chooses us, and calls us—not because we deserve it, but because Jesus has already done everything for us. Because Christ is faithful and unchanging, we can have a steady hope that carries us through ordinary, repetitive, and even difficult days, as we continue to live by faith and love. At the start of 2026, challenges will still come but our hope is not empty. Weakness is still real but grace is more real. You are not facing the new year alone. You are called, kept, and led by grace into a year lived with God’s presence. Reflection: In your life right now—whether in work, studies, family, or the place where you feel most discouraged—where do you see yourself relying on your own strength just to get by? And today, what is one specific thing the Holy Spirit is inviting you to trust and hand back to Jesus? Prayer: Heavenly Father, thank you for beginning this new year with grace. We confess that we often try to prove our worth on our own, and we easily grow discouraged in our weakness. Dear Lord, turn our eyes back to you, and let the saving grace of Jesus Christ be the foundation of our faith. Whatever lies ahead, give us a patient and steady hope as we walk through this year in your love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.