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)

John Calvin somewhat famously (at least among geeky theological circles) suggested that 1 Thessalonians 1:3 is “a brief definition of true Christianity.” This is because it contains that triad of faith, love, and hope—albeit in a different order than we find in 1 Corinthians 13.

Hope probably takes the final place because—as we’ll discover in the context of this letter—the greatest of these three virtues among the Thessalonians was not their love, but their hope in Christ. It was the thing they most needed to cling to if they were to remain grounded amidst heavy pushback and persecution from their neighbours. Interestingly, this triad also matches the order we talked about in Sunday’s sermon on the beatitudes, where the need for hope against persecution takes up the final place.

So the question: if this is the shape of a healthy Christian life, how does your life match up with these first few verses? We’ll find out in the next set of verses that all these good things of faith, love, hope, and even Paul, Silas, and Timothy’s constant thanks, are driven not primarily by the good deeds of the Thessalonians, but by the work of God among them. So how supple and responsive is your life to the work of God?

In general, does gratitude pass your lips more than complaint? What about in prayer? To the extent that we cultivate an awareness of God’s gifts and actions in our lives, it’s not hard to find things to thank him for. But it takes time and attentiveness to do!

Work produced by faith. Faith and works are beautifully joined together here, recognizing that our work of response arises from our belief that God is indeed the one who gives the gifts to do it. So, does your faith in Christ put a spring in your step for going out to work in freedom and joy with a mindset of “I get to!” rather than “I have to…”?

Labor prompted by love—it seems that much of this labor is not our work, but our striving to love one another. So: are you actively seeking to love—in the same way that Christ has loved you—the people you live and work with? What about those who dislike or disagree with?

Finally: does your hope in the future where Jesus returns and sets all things right and makes all things new keep you grounded and faithful in plodding out the mundane, everyday realities of life and living? Of the works of faith, love, and thanks?

Wherever any of these happen—it is a gift of God! Wherever any of these don’t happen, it is an opportunity to recognize that Jesus is there knocking at the door offering the grace to try again. May he form these gifts of thanks, faith, love, and hope within you ever more deeply, today.

As you journey on, go with the blessing of God:

May God himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If he said it, he’ll do it! The amazing grace of Jesus Christ be with you! (1 Thessalonians 5:23,24,28 The Message).