Daily Verse
March 11, 2026
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 ESV
We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, Paul encourages believers to recognize and esteem those who labor among them and provide spiritual leadership. Pastors, elders, and ministry leaders carry the responsibility of teaching, guiding, correcting, and caring for the church. Paul urges the church to respond with respect, appreciation, and love because of the work they do. Spiritual leadership is not simply a position; it is often quiet, persistent labor done for the growth and protection of God’s people.
For believers today, this passage calls us to cultivate a culture of honor and unity within the church. Instead of taking spiritual leadership for granted, we should actively support, pray for, and encourage those who shepherd us. At the same time, Paul ends the instruction with a powerful reminder: “be at peace among yourselves.” When a church values its leaders and pursues peace with one another, it creates an environment where the gospel flourishes and the body of Christ grows stronger together.