Select a Ring of Truth daily devotion online
Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
Select the date to display the devotion for:
1 Thessalonians 1:3
“We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
What is your ‘testimony’?
I don’t mean the ‘one’ you give about when you came to Christ or even what you hope it is now – but – what do other people say about you?
What do people say about the Church you attend? – Paul opens his letter here saying that he prays for them and when he does, he remembers certain attributes about them. I guess the first challenge for us is – do we pray about ‘our’ church? So many of us believe in the ‘power of prayer’ but leave it to others to demonstrate it.
Prayer is not a priority. How do I know? Because we don’t do it or model it. And I know that because we haven’t succeeded as a Church in the ‘West’ as much as we would have done if we had made prayer a priority.
“We [should be] continually remembering before our God and Father” the leaders in our church fellowship – that God would bless them, encourage them, and guide them into the fullness of His plans and vision for the church.
We should also be praying for the other churches in our area. The same things. That God would use them to extend the Kingdom of God on earth and cause them to grow numerically and become spiritually mature. If every church in your area grew, because they were reaching out to the lost, what an exciting place it would be to live. You and I can play our part in that through prayer, if nothing else. Pray for a ‘community of believers’.
Paul remembered their “work produced by faith.” Here was a church which took risks. Why? Because they had ‘faith’ in an all-powerful, unchanging God. A God who longs for everyone to be saved. A church which constantly reached out to those around them. We need to be like them. Don’t just go through the motions – be motivated by your “faith” in all you do.
Secondly, Paul remembered their “labour prompted by love.” How important that was. They didn’t ‘do’ church. They didn’t carry on the same old things out of duty or tradition. They were prompted by love. The unconditional love of God. It was their passion. It ‘drove’ them on, regardless of the pressure or difficulty of the work. They knew they were loved by God, and as a consequence longed to express and show that same love to others. They longed to bring everyone into the family of God so they could know the Love of God too. Yes, they ‘counted the cost’, but “love” won through to victory.
Thirdly, Paul recognised their “endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Yes, their Christianity wasn’t a crutch – it was a dramatic lifestyle. What kept them on target regardless of opposition? Hope. Hope is the antidote to despair. Their hope was anchored “in our Lord Jesus Christ” – the resurrected Lord of Glory. Where does YOUR “hope” come from? (See also Psalm 62:5-8 & Psalm 121.)
Remember 1 Corinthians 13? “These three remain:faith, hope and love” (v 13).
It’s the same for us all. As individuals and as churches.
Download the above Ring of Truth devotion as a PDF.
Previous Day's Devotion | Next Day's Devotion
To subscribe to this daily devotion by email visit our Daily Email subscription page.
