1 Thessalonians 1:3 - “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”

The Faith of the Lord Jesus Christ produces excellent results. The result is the “Work of Faith,” the Apostle Paul further describes as a “Labor of Love” and with “Patience of Hope.” It differs from the usual work, which does not provide pleasure but a burden that results in burnout and frustration.

The person with a work of faith is not focused on performance and man's opinion. His motivation and purpose is only to glorify the Savior. His eyes are focused on the Lord and not on anyone. His ears are keen on only obeying God and His will. He is willing to face hard labor and remain patient in faithfully fulfilling the tasks so that nothing can move him away from the service of the Lord.

The faith brings the Apostle Paul to praise God for the believers in Thessalonica and to pray for them. What an incredible testimony they have shown and the powerful results it brought throughout the regions of Thessalonica and beyond. Look at how Paul describes their work of faith in the following verses:

1 Thessalonians 1:5-8: “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. [6] And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: [7] So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. [8] For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

These are the results of the work of faith that began in Paul and continued to manifest its power in the Christians in Thessalonica and all the people reached by the gospel. The work of faith is when God does the work through us. This is possible when we completely surrender our lives and keep our eyes only to Jesus, the “author and finisher” of our faith.

Our prayer for today:

I praise You, Heavenly Father, for blessing and equipping us with faith through Your Son Jesus. May we always be motivated and moved to claim its power to manifest Your glory and turn men from idols to worship and serve You, our only True God. In Jesus name, Amen!