PERSEVERE WITH FAITH, LOVE AND HOPE

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 / Keywords 1:3

We continually 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. Paul greets the young church officially on behalf of Paul’s team of leaders. He encourages them with Jesus’ grace and peace, assures them that they are constantly in his prayer, and acknowledges their dedication to the Lord. Their faith, love and hope were a model to other believers. Often, we struggle alone in the spiritual battle and feel no one knows or remembers us. Paul knew this about the Thessalonians, and this was his impetus to begin his letter writing to churches, known as the epistles.

 

2. Paul reminds them how they came to faith. The underlying truth is that God loved and chose them. They believed the Word, and the Holy Spirit worked powerfully in them with conviction. They turned away from polytheism, accepted the one true God, and imitated Paul’s way of life joyfully.

 

3. The Thessalonians, some of high status, were new Christians. Though they were vulnerable and had much to lose, they endured fiery persecution, shared the message, and waited for Jesus' Second Coming. Their story inspires us today. Our simple faith in Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins and our hope in his resurrection challenges this post-Christian era. To endure trials, we must live in the light of Jesus’ Second Coming as they did.

 

Prayer Father, empower us with your Spirit to believe your words, to joyfully overcome trials with faith, love and hope, and to share the gospel.

One Word Persevere with faith, love and hope