Journey Through The Bible
   Old Testament Reading: Hosea 7-8
   New Testament Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1

We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers. We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3).

Our journey through the New Testament takes us to Paul’s letters to the Thessalonians. After being released from prison in Philippi, Paul and Silas, along with Timothy, traveled to the nearby town of Thessalonica while Luke stayed behind in Philippi to pastor the church there. After a month of preaching in Thessalonica, a riot broke out in the city and Paul and Silas left by night to Berea (Acts 17:1-10).

After several agonizing months, Paul could endure it no longer. He needed to know how those new Believers were doing in Thessalonica. Paul sent Timothy back to the city so that he could report on the Believers’ welfare. In response to Timothy’s good word about them, he wrote this letter from Corinth to affirm their steadfast faith, to exhort them to excel even more, and to inform them about what to expect in the future.

Paul was encouraged by Timothy’s report because he knew they were maturing in Christ from the change in their lives that Timothy saw. A person who claims to be a Christian, but whose life has not changed, is only fooling themselves.

Paul saw in the Thessalonians your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (v3b).Faith, love, and hope are essential characteristics of the Christian walk and the greatest evidence of salvation.

Faith must always lead to works (James 2:14-26). It has been said, “we are not saved by faith plus works, but by faith that works.” In Hebrews 11, the great faith chapter of the Bible, nearly every time the word faith appears, it is soon followed by a verb expressing action. By faith, Able offered … by faith, Noah built an ark … by faith, Abraham went (Hebrews 11:4, 7, 8).

Love of God is our motive to perform works of ministry and another evidence of our salvation. Paul said, God’s love has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us (Rom 5:5). We serve Christ because we love Him. This is the labor of love that Paul mentioned. Jesus said If you love me, you will keep my commands (John 14:15).

Hope is the third evidence of salvation, patiently waiting for Jesus Christ to return. The return of Jesus Christ is the dominant theme of both letters to the Thessalonians. Unsaved people are not eagerly awaiting the Lord’s return. In fact, when the Lord catches His church up in the air, unsaved people will be totally surprised.

Faith, Love, and Hope are evidence of our salvation and the motive for our work of service to God. These spiritual qualities are bound together and can only come from God. When we turn to the Lord through faith in Jesus Christ, others should see that change in us, a change marked by our faith and hope in Jesus, and our selfless labor to serve and love one another and spread the gospel.