We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 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.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
This prayer of Paul reminds us of three important parts of our experience as followers of Christ; faith, love and hope. They each have an important part of the process. In this prayer the apostle rejoices that the faith of the Thessalonians produced work, or specific acts. Because they had faith in Christ acted. Those works were actually labors that took love to accomplish. Not only did those acts or works take effort they needed endurance that hope provides to continue in them.
I don't think Paul is talking about some warm fuzzy one shot random act of kindness. You know what I mean. It's one thing to give a homeless person a few dollars as you pass by and quite another to stand by someone as they go through a serious trial. Love over time takes faith and hope. That's Christianity, that's discipleship.
Lord, give us the faith, love and hope we need to follow you. Thank you for your unfailing love, your grace and mercy that you have shown us. Praise be to you in us today!
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