1 Thessalonians 1 : Faith, Hope, Love

1 Thessalonians 1
Faith, Hope, Love

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.

4. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

1 Thessalonians is a letter Paul wrote to the believers in Thessalonica.

In the greetings of chapter 1, we can sense Paul's pride. He's proud of the changed lives of those who accepted the gospel he preached. He's proud that they have become an example to people in other regions.

Paul praises the Thessalonian believers for their faith in accepting the gospel, their love in living out that faith, and their hope that sustains them through difficult times. Paul is pleased to see that faith, hope, and love, which he mentions in 1 Corinthians 13, are being realized in the lives of the Thessalonian believers.

Faith, love, and hope are the basics of a Christian life according to Paul. It seems he's saying that a Christian is one who has faith in God after hearing the gospel Paul preaches, who serves God and neighbors with love as a believer in God, and who lives a life of joys and sorrows with hope in Jesus' return.

It's difficult to gain faith, even harder to practice love with that faith, and even more challenging to maintain hope that overcomes the suffering that comes from living a life of faith and love towards God.

Paul says that God has chosen those who live out these challenges without hesitation.

God's choosing is not revealed in words but in life. It's revealed through a life where faith, love, and hope are intertwined, like that of the Thessalonian believers.

Faithful God, make us examples of Christians with faith in you, love for our neighbors, and hope in Jesus' return! Holy Spirit, be with us. Amen.