1 Thessalonians 1:2-5 - We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 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. For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
Three of Paul’s favorite words...faith…love…hope…he includes them once again to describe for us how to live a more holy life. This letter to the Thessalonians…it contains his heart…for he longs to be with them…to spend more than 3 weeks teaching them about the God they decided to follow. And these new Christians are really under some heavy persecution…Paul’s life was so endangered that he had to flee this area…his only contact is sweet Timothy.
He tells them that they need to hold on to this new faith they have received…that the faith they manage to build in their hearts will produce great works of Christ. He tells them to love…love others in spite of the way they are being treated…for that love will provide the fuel they need to keep laboring and teaching others about God. He tells them to endure…like Christ endured the cross for us…for that will inspire them to hope for nothing less than the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul knew that he was not the only one chosen of God to share the gospel…he writes to these new friends…these new brothers and sisters in Christ to help them understand that we are all chosen. We are all chosen with the power of the Holy Spirit. He takes up residence deep in our hearts and transforms us into his great vessel…full of faith…prompted to always love with the love of Christ…and never losing hope that God will use every situation in our lives to teach us more about him.
Father…thank you for bearing the cruelty of the world for my sake. Thank you for providing me with the love I need to see life with your hope…hope that all the pain in my life has purpose. Continue to inspire me to love others as you did. Help me to accept that you have chosen me to be your vessel. Give me a new faith….faith that builds stronger every day…to seek your will for my life and learn all that I need to learn to use the power of the Holy Spirit to live a more pleasing …holy life for you. Amen.
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