“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)

When we are inspired by other believers, what do we see in their lives that inspires us? What about their lives inspires and encourages us to follow Jesus? When Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica, he writes with both gratitude and prayer for the people of the church because of what God was doing through their lives. God was at work in their lives, doing what would be eternal. Paul would say to the church at Corinth, “For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. . .. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:9-10, 13) Faith, hope and love is what Paul sees in the church at Thessalonica.

Paul remembers the work being done by the church with thanksgiving. The work they were doing has its motivation in faith. They had come to God by faith. Their faith was active as their lives had been changed. They were expressing God’s work in their lives as they learned to trust Him. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

Paul continues his gratitude as he remembers their labor which comes from their love. Labor is more then work, it is the difficult and trying times of one’s service in following Christ. It is because of God’s love for us Jesus, the Son of God, went to the cross. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8) It is this love which motivated the church at Thessalonica to do what is difficult to do: showing God’s love to each other and to those without Christ.

Paul’s gratitude continues as he sees their willingness not to give up. Their endurance comes as they have their hope in Jesus Christ. Their hope is in the promise of eternal life, which Jesus has come to bring. Their ability to endure through the difficult days of life, was encouraging to Paul as they did not give up. Even in his reminder of the promise of eternity, he would commend them for their hope-inspired endurance. “He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10-11)

Paul’s gratitude would also encourage him to pray for the church in Thessalonica. When we walk in obedience to God, there are temptations which come to move us away from our following Him. “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (Ephesians 6:12) Knowing the challenge, Paul would pray. “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.” (Ephesians 6:18)

May we be inspired by Paul and the church at Thessalonica, to pray for each other to live and follow Jesus by our faith, love, and hope. May God use us to further His message of life through Jesus Christ to all around us. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.” (Galatians 6:9-10)

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block