THREE BIG BIBLE ACTION WORDS
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NKJV
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
This letter to the church at Thessalonica was considered to be Paul's first letter. Right off the bat, he talks about why he is giving thanks for these young Christians.
Paul was thanking God in his prayer for the young church and the three things that stood out to him—their faith, hope, and love. Paul had mentioned this big three in his letter to the Corinthian church when he stated that three things remain: faith, hope, and love. And he listed love as the greatest of the three.
Here, in his letter to the Thessalonians, Paul mentions the actions that accompany this big three. He starts with the work of faith. The Amplified Bible calls it the work energized by faith. James references the corresponding action that is a result of faith. This work of faith can impact most any area of our life. Our faith impacts our attitude and demeanor. Faith impacts what we do with our time. The fact that you are listening or reading this devotional is influenced by your faith in the living God and the belief that His word can make a difference in your life. Our faith always has an action to it.
And so does our love. The labor of love is also called by the Amplified Bible, the service motivated by love. So, like faith, real love has an action to it. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Love has a give to it. Love is more than words; love is not static. Love labors. We still use that term today. When someone does something that requires a cost and great effort, it can be called a labor of love. Think of Mom in the kitchen on Thanksgiving. Because we love God and love His people and His work, we serve and give.
Finally, the patience of hope. These two words will need a more biblical definition to bring home the point. The word patience is better rendered perseverance. Perseverance is enduring, the bearing up under, the refusal to quit. And the reason behind this endurance is hope. Hope, according to Strong's Concordance, is "the desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it."
So because we are expecting something good because of our relationship with the Lord Jesus, we endure; we stay in the fight.
We can see why Paul called these three the three that remain and continue. Faith, hope, and love were evident in the day Paul wrote this letter, and these three are still with us today. We are still acting in line with what we believe. We are still serving out of our hearts of love and persevere because of our hope and expectation of good.
APPLICATION
Here are some questions we can ask ourselves. What am I acting on because of my faith? It could be rejoicing or refusing to give into fear, but what actions reveal my faith?
Where is my love blessing other people? Serving in church is not a duty. It's a love thing. Finding a way to extend God's kingdom out of love for Him and His works. Where is my love showing up?
And what am I expecting that's good? It was Oral Roberts who coined the phrase, "Something good is going to happen to you today." What are my expectations, and how are they keeping me in contact with the Lord?
Three big Bible action words that are still relevant to us today! How are you doing with the big three?
PRAYER
Lord, I purpose by Your grace to grow in my faith, hope, and love.