“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 (endurance) of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father” (1 Thess 1:2-3).
What a great work crew to have on your team! Their faith was not mere speculation, but industrious, acting on the basis of what they had seen in the Word of God. And their love? No dreamy-eyed poets, these. Their love was hard at work too, looking for every opportunity to show the love of heaven, poured by the Holy Spirit through their hearts into the lives of those in need. And their hope was no mere hope-so, imagining how the life to come might be an escape. No, hope was in the trenches, unearthing for others the foundation of life to come. This hope provided the present vigor that helped them endure life’s challenges, knowing that such were not worthy to be compared to the coming glory.
And this is the crew for you!