THANK GOD FOR EVIDENCE OF GROWING FAITH AND ABOUNDING LOVE
2Thess 1:3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.
A growing faith and an abounding love towards fellow Christians - these are primary things to thank God for as you think about the state of the Christian community.
There are aspects of faith whereby either you have it or you don't. But there are also aspects of faith which are a matter of degree and with respect to which one can mature. We read of Abraham's faith which Paul speaks of as a model of the Christian's faith in saying, "he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised." Rom 4:20,21 And the context has to do with the application of his faith in God's promise despite the circumstances. No doubt this is how Paul evaluated the growing faith of the Thessalonians, namely through their increasingly bold application of the Word of God despite the circumstances.
There is a natural love that Christians have for one another, being of a common family and having a common destiny, but love is also a matter of degree, a matter of maturity. And no doubt again that Paul evaluated the state of their love by its application. In fact their love was so evident that Paul writes, "But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more." 1Thess 4:9,10 Imagine that! The love of the brethren coming so natural to them that they need not be taught on the matter.
Now consider what group of Christians you might thank God for whose faith grows exceedingly and whose love for one another abounds.