Faith, Love, and Hope

May 12, 2022

Faith, Love, and Hope

1 Thessalonians 1

Kim Brown

Central Truth

As Corrie Ten Boom said, "I know that the experiences of our lives, when we let God use them, become the mysterious and perfect preparation for the work He will give us to do." May we remember that God is the initiator of faith, love, and hope within us.

We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Greeting

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace to you and peace.

The Thessalonians' Faith and Example

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly^{1

1:2
Or without ceasing} mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers^{2

1:4
Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated brothers) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters} loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Footnotes

[1] 1:2 Or without ceasing
[2] 1:4 Or brothers and sisters. In New Testament usage, depending on the context, the plural Greek word adelphoi (translated “brothers”) may refer either to brothers or to brothers and sisters

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In Paul's first letter to the Thessalonian church, he shares his thankfulness and encourages them in their faith. He gives God the credit for the good works of service from His people. He "gives thanks to God" for them and is "constantly mentioning" them in prayer (1 Thessalonians 1:2). A spirit of thankfulness and commitment to prayer are integral parts of a walk with Christ, and Paul gives thanks to God for their growth and in sharing the gospel.

Next, Paul expresses that he is remembering their "work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). In this expression, Paul is giving praise for the depth of their faith through their work for God (James 2:17-18), their service that arises from their love for others (1 Corinthians 13), and their endurance that is inspired by hope (Ephesians 1:18).

The church was wholeheartedly following after God and displayed this through their actions. The Greek word for faith is pistis, meaning a loyalty and faithfulness to something. In Habakkuk 2:4b, "[T]he righteous shall live by his faith," and Paul is stating that their faith drives their work (action). He goes on to say their labor of love is what motivates them. Sometimes, other things in our lives can drive us to love, such as money, status, recognition, duty, or even people-pleasing. Ultimately, all these temporal things lead us to pride, burn-out, and fatigue (Ephesians 2:8-9). The right motivation for all work is love. Love is self-sacrifice for the good of another and the only motivation when work becomes labor. Last, having steadfastness of hope means we have patience, endurance, and a "don't-give-up" attitude.

We may have adversities in life that are hard to understand, or we may be in a period of waiting, but our patience in knowing we have hope in Jesus will anchor us in the storms. We know the end of the story—Jesus is King (Revelation 19:16)! The evidence of His grace in our lives can lead us to a life of thankfulness and a spirit of hope.

1. Even though the Thessalonian church faced much persecution and suffering, they had an unshakable belief in God, His Word, and His promises. How does their example encourage you in times of suffering? (Philippians 2:17; Romans 5:3-5)

2. Ephesians 2:10 says, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." God made each of us in His image and has a purpose for us. His love for us is intentional, and He knows us intimately. With this knowledge, how is your faith, love, and hope strengthened from His great love for you?

3. Is your labor of love motivated by love, or is it fame, success, money, applause, etc.? How can you change your heart posture to reflect a heart of gratitude and see the evidence of His daily grace for you? (Colossians 2:6-7)

4. What are some practical ways that you can point others to the hope found in Jesus, by reflecting the virtues of the Thessalonian church (faith, love, and hope) through your daily actions? (Galatians 5:5-6; 1 Thessalonians 5:5-8)