Work of Faith, Labor of Love, Patience of Hope

"To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 NKJV

Like Thessalonians in the first century, we Christians are chosen and called by faith which led them to God from idols to serve the living and true God. Just like them, we labor to glory in the sufferings and tribulations with joy of the Spirit, to witness our faith with neighbors and communities in our midst, and to trust in the Father God who is the commander in chief of all things. And as they were patiently waiting for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, so also we do patiently for His second appearance. Each Christian will be experiencing the coming of the Lord with the loud trumpet call at his or her death. It could be tomorrow and no one knows the time. No wonder our Lord Jesus Christ says plainly the day of the Lord shall be like the times of Noah. "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be." (Matthew 24:36-37 NKJV) We Christians believe that Jesus Christ will deliver us from the wrath yet to come, the terrible tribulations. "The sun shall be turned into darkness, And the moon into blood, Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord." (Joel 2:31 NKJV) With such a hope we have, we continue to live by faith and labor to love God and neighbors until the day of the Lord. "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13 NKJV)