remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 1:3
After Paul was beaten and driven out of Thessalonica by jealous Jews (Acts 17), his heart yearned for the new church he had left behind, he was concerned for their spiritual well being, wondering if the persecutions they had suffered had caused them to abandon their new found faith. So, he sent Timothy, his faithful companion and son in the gospel to go find out how they were doing. To Paul’s joy and to the glory of God, Timothy brought back news of a vibrant church whose faith in Christ had not been shaken by the trials and persecutions, but instead, had grown stronger. Paul was thankful and overjoyed. In light of the good news from Timothy, he wrote his first letter (1 Thessalonians) to this persecuted but thriving church, praising them for the steadfastness, recounting the selfless service he had observed in their lives before he was abruptly taken from them.
What Paul remembered most about these new believers was their work of faith, labor of love and their steadfast hope in Jesus. Each of these Christian graces are not self focused, neither are they self serving but are directed outward. Faith is directed towards God, Love towards others and Hope towards the future return of our Lord Jesus. These are Christian graces that should mark all those who profess faith in Jesus Christ. They point to the fact that we are no longer living for ourselves, but for the one who called us and saved us.
Genuine faith in God always lead to good works. James tells us that faith without works is dead. (James 2:14-26). A genuine faith in God, produces a genuine love for people, a genuine love for people causes us to labor for them, both of which produces a genuine hope in the return of Christ. Living with the hope of Christ’s return (with eternity in view) causes us to remain patient and steadfast in the face of persecution and injustice.
True and genuine Christianity is marked by a life of faith towards God, our labor of love for people and steadfast hope in the return of our savior, Jesus Christ. As John Stott puts it, “Faith works, love labors and hope endures”.
Soli Deo Gloria!