The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 1:3,
"We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
As Paul speaks of his thanksgiving to God for these believers in Thessalonica, he mentions their work, labor and endurance produced, prompted and inspired by their faith, love and hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. These Thessalonians were attested by Paul as authentic believers through their reception of the gospel and the demonstration of their faith by what they did, choices they made, how they lived their lives.
What did they do? They did work, they did labor and they endured. Paul speaks of their endurance in hardship, 1:6 and 3:1-6.
James tells us that the kind of faith that brings us salvation finds its expression in the things we think, do and say, James 2:14-26. These believers in Thessalonica are a wonderful model for us as to what the fellowship of believers should look like. One thing that stands out is their care and concern for others. Christianity was not merely the selfish fulfillment of the spiritual needs we all feel - not for these believers. These brothers and sisters expressed a love, a care and a concern for others.
Paul talks of the reception they provided him, 1:9, their longing for Paul and memories of him, 3:6, that they were, in fact, living to please God, 4:1. Paul points to the love they had for one another and all God's family, 4:9-10 and their encouragement and edification of one another, 4:11. They lived for the Lord and for one another.
I don't read anything in this letter about who got to run this ministry or that committee in the church. I don't read about how satisfied/dissatisfied any of them were over the sermon, the selection of hymns for the service or what color the nursery should be painted. I don't read anything about how consumed these folks were with themselves. These believers are clearly noted for the wonderful expression of faith they had in how they lived for the Lord and for one another.
May we all live out our faith in such a way that Paul might proclaim of us, "Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?" 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
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