The Product of Faith, Hope and Love
Faith, Hope, and Love Don't Just Exist — They Produce
SCRIPTURE:
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NKJV - We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 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,
OBSERVATION:
Paul, in his typical fashion, opens the letter (Epistle) to the Thessalonians with thanks. Paul was the master encourager; he always offered encouragement in his letters before getting down to business. He knew firsthand the importance of being thankful, even when major problems plagued the church. Paul understood that as long as people are part of churches, there will ALWAYS be sin and imperfection. Why? Because we are flawed, sinful, and STILL IN NEED OF A SAVIOR!
David Guzik brings a key point home. Something we should be mindful of when serving, working with, and ministering to those we serve with.
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NKJV - We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 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,
OBSERVATION:
Paul, in his typical fashion, opens the letter (Epistle) to the Thessalonians with thanks. Paul was the master encourager; he always offered encouragement in his letters before getting down to business. He knew firsthand the importance of being thankful, even when major problems plagued the church. Paul understood that as long as people are part of churches, there will ALWAYS be sin and imperfection. Why? Because we are flawed, sinful, and STILL IN NEED OF A SAVIOR!
David Guzik brings a key point home. Something we should be mindful of when serving, working with, and ministering to those we serve with.
There were things about the Christians in Thessalonica that Paul simply could not forget. He always remembered them. What he remembered about them made him thankful.
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because all the Christians in Thessalonica thought so highly of him. Later, Paul used a whole chapter defending himself and his ministry against slander and false accusations.
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because the Thessalonian Christians were morally impeccable. Later in the letter, Paul strongly warned them against the failings in regard to sexual impurity.
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because the Thessalonian Christians were completely accurate in all their doctrine. He had to correct some of their wrong ideas in that area also.
Despite the problems, Paul was so grateful to God for the Thessalonians because there was an undeniable work of the Holy Spirit and a marvelous change in their lives. – David Guzik
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because all the Christians in Thessalonica thought so highly of him. Later, Paul used a whole chapter defending himself and his ministry against slander and false accusations.
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because the Thessalonian Christians were morally impeccable. Later in the letter, Paul strongly warned them against the failings in regard to sexual impurity.
Paul’s gratitude didn’t come because the Thessalonian Christians were completely accurate in all their doctrine. He had to correct some of their wrong ideas in that area also.
Despite the problems, Paul was so grateful to God for the Thessalonians because there was an undeniable work of the Holy Spirit and a marvelous change in their lives. – David Guzik
APPLICATION:
Paul uses three words we are familiar with – Faith, Hope, and Love. This sums up the chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB - Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.
These three are known as the “three great Christian virtues.”
Paul uses three words we are familiar with – Faith, Hope, and Love. This sums up the chapter on love in 1 Corinthians 13.
1 Corinthians 13:13 CSB - Now these three remain: faith, hope, and love -- but the greatest of these is love.
These three are known as the “three great Christian virtues.”
Here, for the first time chronologically, in Paul’s writings, we have this famous triad: faith, love, hope. But Paul’s stress is not on these virtues alone, but rather upon what they produce. – Edmond D. Hiebert
What was happening? These virtues were bearing fruit – even amid all the necessary correction, their failures, and the issues that needed to be addressed. The fruit of faith, hope, and love was evident and being produced.
For you and me today. Keep loving Jesus, keep walking with Him, and remain in His word. He WILL perfect the things concerning you. Let the fruit of the “three great Christian virtues” be evident in your life today.
Have you ever seen a tree try, strive, or struggle to produce fruit? No! It’s a natural part of how God designed them. They do not stress, strain, or force it. When it’s time to produce fruit, it happens naturally. So too with you and me. When we walk with Jesus, His Spirit produces the “fruit of the Spirit.” It’s not us grunting, straining, and striving. It happens naturally and supernaturally.
May these three—faith, hope, and love—remain, be evident, and produce fruit in you and me. The greatest of these is love.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that You are faithful to cultivate in us the fruit of faith, hope, and love. Thank you that through faith, hope, and love You are working out what concerns us. Just as the Thessalonians, we all have “issues,” but thank you that we have Your Spirit and the Word of God to change us. Father, if today we are not producing the fruit of faith, hope, and love, would You, as You did with the Thessalonians, bring to our attention what needs to be changed and, by Your Spirit, bring the fruit of change?
For you and me today. Keep loving Jesus, keep walking with Him, and remain in His word. He WILL perfect the things concerning you. Let the fruit of the “three great Christian virtues” be evident in your life today.
Have you ever seen a tree try, strive, or struggle to produce fruit? No! It’s a natural part of how God designed them. They do not stress, strain, or force it. When it’s time to produce fruit, it happens naturally. So too with you and me. When we walk with Jesus, His Spirit produces the “fruit of the Spirit.” It’s not us grunting, straining, and striving. It happens naturally and supernaturally.
May these three—faith, hope, and love—remain, be evident, and produce fruit in you and me. The greatest of these is love.
PRAYER:
Thank you, Jesus, that You are faithful to cultivate in us the fruit of faith, hope, and love. Thank you that through faith, hope, and love You are working out what concerns us. Just as the Thessalonians, we all have “issues,” but thank you that we have Your Spirit and the Word of God to change us. Father, if today we are not producing the fruit of faith, hope, and love, would You, as You did with the Thessalonians, bring to our attention what needs to be changed and, by Your Spirit, bring the fruit of change?
You don't force spiritual fruit any more than a tree forces its harvest — walk with Jesus, and faith, hope, and love will naturally produce what only His Spirit can grow.
Posted in 13 - 1 Thessalonians
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