“Ignorance Of The Law Is No Excuse.”

 “Ignorance Of The Law Is No Excuse.”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

        Thomas Jefferson, the famous statesman and former President of the United States, made the statement above. I want us to study this sentence because this sentiment has its origins with God. Some have the mistaken notion that if someone is doing wrong, but does not know it is wrong, then God will excuse that behavior because “they did not know,” or “their heart was in the right place,” etc. This is not so. God demands that all men read and understand His word. Paul wrote to the Ephesians and said, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). He also told them, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). Thus, we learn three things from these passages: 1) It is a command of God to be wise. 2) The only way to gain that wisdom is to read God’s word. 3) Since God has commanded this and provided us with Scripture, I have no excuse if I am found to be ignorant of God’s will.

            If one drives over the speed limit and is pulled over, do you think the police officer will overlook the breaking of the law simply because the driver was not paying attention and did not know the speed limit? Of course, not! Why, then, do people think that God will overlook the sin and ignorance in their lives? “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Heb. 10:31). “And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent” (Acts 17:30). God’s longsuffering is what has allowed us to live to this present time (II Pet. 3:9; Rom. 2:4). Let us take advantage of this opportunity to learn God’s will and repent, so that we will not be ignorant and miss out on God’s blessings (Rom. 11:25; II Cor. 6:2; Matt. 7:24-27).

“According To All That The Lord Commanded …”

 “According To All That The Lord Commanded …”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

     Though some deny that God requires obedience, the truth is that God has always required it. We should be impressed with this fact when reading the Bible. As we begin this study, let us read three passages that teach us about the importance of obedience.

• “Thus was all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the congregation finished: and the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they” (Ex. 39:32).
• “And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so did they” (Num. 1:54).
• After dividing into four segments and camping around the tabernacle, Numbers 2:34 says, "And the children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses....”

            These three passages set the tone for our study, because God demands no less of us today. These three Scriptures declare three things that are required to live "according to all that the Lord commanded."

Action

            In these three instances, we find the phrase, “Thus did...” If we ever plan to please God, we must be active in His work. We will never please God without action. Only a fool would think that God does not want us to be active in His work. I do not say this lightly. Jesus taught that action was the difference between Him considering you as wise or a fool in Matthew 7:24-27 (also Lk. 6:46-49). James also made a distinction between the hearer and the doer. The hearer deceived himself, while the doer was “blessed in his deed” (Jas. 1:22-25). Paul said, “work out your own salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12). We do this by obeying “all that the Lord commanded.”

Obeying The Right Source Of Authority

            These people did, “according to all the Lord commanded...” In other words, they obeyed the right source of authority! God demands no less of us today. He commands us to “speak as the oracles of God” (I Pet. 4:11). Paul tells us, “whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (Col. 3:17). This means that everything we do must be done by His authority! When we obey the truth in these passages, we will have learned a lesson that most of the world has not! Let us never go by what “seems” right (Prov. 14:12; Jer. 10:23). Let us always ask, “What saith the Scripture?” (Rom. 4:3). This is what pleases God!

Complete Obedience

            In Exodus and Numbers, we see that the people did “all” God told them! Today, God demands our complete obedience as well. This truth is often stated in the New Testament. For example, Jesus said only those who “do” the will of the Father will go to Heaven (Matt. 7:21; Rev. 22:14). He promised eternal life to those who are obedient (Jn. 8:51). One cannot be the friend of Christ without obedience (Jn. 14:15). Furthermore, Hebrews 11 lists those faith heroes who were obedient to God, implying we need to follow their example. In his second epistle, John teaches that fellowship with God will not come unless we “abide” in Christ’s doctrine (II Jn. 9). Yes, we must completely obey God’s word to have a home in Heaven!

Conclusion

            While we know we cannot earn our way into Heaven (Lk. 17:10), we must also recognize that God expects our loving obedience to His will. “Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city” (Rev. 22:14). How are you doing in your obedience to our loving Lord? Take a moment to reflect on your relationship with God.

“400 Years Of Silence”

 “400 Years Of Silence”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

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he period between the end of the book of Malachi and the time of Christ’s coming to earth is often referred to as the “400 years of silence.” It is commonly referred to in this way because, in those years, no inspired books were written. Since this is true, some might assume that God left man alone and waited for Christ to be born. We might think nothing of spiritual importance happened in these years. Yet, this is not an accurate assumption of this time in man’s history.

 

            Just because God did not inspire men to write books at this time, are we safe in assuming that this means God was not speaking to man? Were men only “counting time” for 400 years? I view these 400 years as a fascinating period in Biblical history and the broader history of men in general. Why do I say this? Living during these 400 years meant …

Men Saw Bible Prophecies Fulfilled.

            A prime example of this is seen in the book of Daniel. Daniel was called to be God’s prophet when he was taken into Babylonian captivity at an early age (Dan. 1-2). While still a young man, he stood before Nebuchadnezzar, and by God’s inspiration, told Nebuchadnezzar his dream and interpreted it (Dan. 2:29-45). This dream prophesied of four coming kingdoms, three physical and one spiritual, that would arise after Babylon. It was during these four hundred years of “silence” that much of his dream was fulfilled.

 

            Some years after the interpretation of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream, Daniel had a vision of a ram and goat who fought with one another by the river Ulai (Dan. 8). This vision was a foretelling of the kingdoms of the Medes and Persians and their struggle and loss to the Greeks (Dan. 8:19-27). The fulfillment of these events is not recorded for us in Scripture, because it happened during those 400 “silent” years! The rise and fall of the Greek Empire (torso/thighs of brass, Dan. 2:32, 39, 7:21-22) happened during this time as well.

 

            Yes, God’s prophecies were fulfilled during those days! Men and women with eyes to see and ears to hear would have taken note of this and realized that God is powerful and very much in control (Dan. 4:17, 32, 5:21).

Men Had The Complete Old Testament By Which To Live.

            During these 400 years, the Jews would have had access to all thirty-nine Old Testament books. They had access to the knowledge of God’s word that folks in Moses’ day or David’s or Isaiah’s, etc., did not have. They had all the truth God had revealed up to that point!

 

            In these years, the Septuagint (Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures) was completed. Now, not only those who spoke Hebrew, but also those who spoke Greek, could see the “big picture” as they looked forward to Messiah’s coming (Jn. 4:25-26). No doubt, such knowledge of the Scripture is what kept people like Simeon and Anna faithful to God throughout their lives (Lk. 2:25-38). Remember, they would have been living at the end of these 400 years. All they had to follow was the written word of the Old Testament, and they kept it faithfully. God’s word then had the power to produce faith in people as it does today (Rom. 10:17). This is what those folks lived by until they saw the Lord’s Christ with their own eyes! Just think of the people unknown to us, but known to God, who faithfully continued in the Lord’s will all of those years. Think of those who lived near the end of those 400 years and got to see and hear Christ upon this earth! Their faith and perseverance should inspire us today.

Men Could Receive God’s Blessings.

            Remember that those living in this time had passages of Scripture to comfort and strengthen them, as well as God’s promised blessings to them for their obedience. They had access to such passages as:

 

·         “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread” (Ps. 37:25).

 

·         “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths” (Prov. 3:5-6).

 

·         “And now, Israel, what doth the LORD thy God require of thee, but to fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD thy God with all thy heart and with all thy soul, To keep the commandments of the LORD, and his statutes, which I command thee this day for thy good?” (Deut. 10:12-13).

 

            In addition to these passages, we know they could become wise through their study and obedience to God’s word (Ps. 119:98-100; II Tim. 3:15). Those people could read the Scriptures, learn from them, live them, and be blessed during those 400 years. They also had numerous examples of folks living by faith, living examples of those who pleased God (Heb. 11).

 

            Those living during the 400 years were in a unique place in history. They saw many Old Testament prophecies fulfilled, and this would build their confidence that other prophecies, such as Messianic prophecies, would be fulfilled as well!

Modern-Day Applications

            As I think about those folks living during the 400 years, I think we Christians have much in common with them. Can you see any similarities?

 

            One way we are similar is that, just like those folks, we can observe fulfilled prophecies. Though they looked forward to Christ coming to earth, in our case, we point to the fulfillment of all the Messianic prophecies and look forward to the Savior’s final return (I Thess. 4:13-17; etc.). The Lord’s Christ came to this earth, and while here fulfilled 332 prophecies concerning Himself. These prophecies, such as His birth in Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2) and His crucifixion (Ps. 22), were fulfilled in remarkable detail. The existence of so many fulfilled prophecies makes it plain that God inspired the Bible we read and study (II Tim. 3:16-17)!

 

            Not only is this the case, but we also have the completed word to guide our lives (Jude 3). Like those folks, we have access to God’s knowledge, knowledge to which the people from the first century and before did not have access. The glaring difference between us and those in those 400 years is that they lived according to the Old Testament’s mandate, but a New Testament was to come (Jer. 31:31-34)! We, on the other hand, have the completed New Testament to hear, believe, and obey (Matt. 28:18-20; Heb. 8:6-13, 12:24; II Cor. 3:6-14).

 

            Of course, we are also aware of the fact that by following the New Testament, we will be blessed by God (Jas. 1:25; Rev. 1:3, 22:14). This principle of hearing, believing, obeying, and receiving a blessing has been seen since the beginning of time, and it is still true today! Just as folks during those 400 years were blessed when they followed the Lord’s will, so also, we today are blessed by God when we are obedient (Rev. 22:14)!

Conclusion

            When we think about it, we see that describing the time between the Old and New Testaments as a time of “silence” is a misnomer. True, God did not inspire men to write a book or letter that was included in the canon of Scripture. Yet, does this mean God was “silent”? Could men today say that God has been silent since there have not been any more verbally inspired books since the first century (Jude 3)? Of course, not! We now have access to His completed word. God speaks today just as clearly as ever through the words of Christ recorded for us on the printed page (Heb. 1:1-2; Eph. 3:4; Rev. 1:3; II Tim. 2:15; etc.). Let us hear Him, believe, and obey!

Being A Christian Is ....

 “Being A Christian Is …”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

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ot for the lazy (II Tim. 2:15). Christ compared His kingdom to a vineyard (Matt. 20), not a resort!

 

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ot for the spiritually ignorant (II Tim. 2:15). Paul said, “Whereby, when ye read, ye may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ” (Eph. 3:4). He also commanded Christians: “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17). No man is truly educated unless He knows God’s word! One who is ignorant of God’s word cannot please God!

 

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ot for those who wish to have the applause and love of men. Paul told Timothy, “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (II Tim. 3:12). Jesus taught, “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you” (Jn. 15:18-19). James wrote, “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God” (Jas. 4:4).

 

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ot for quitters (I Cor. 9:24-27). Jesus said, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Rev. 2:10).

 

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or the spiritually minded. Paul wrote, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col. 3:1). Christ said, “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt. 6:21).

 

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or the convicted. When the Jews heard the gospel preached, “they were pricked (cut, stuck, pierced) in their heart” (Acts 2:37). About 3000 were saved that day, with people being added daily (Acts 2:41, 47). These same people, in the face of persecution, “went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:4). Are we this convicted? Do we say that there are saved people in all churches, or do we have the conviction to stand and say “there is one body” (Eph. 4:4), and only one way to Heaven (Jn. 14:6)?

 

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or the loving. We must love God above all others. Jesus said, “He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me” (Matt. 10:37). We cannot place anyone or anything above our love for God! No man can serve two masters, but will love one and hate the other (Matt. 6:24). Let us be as Christ, who “loved righteousness and hated iniquity” (Heb. 1:8-9; I Pet. 2:22). Whom do we love most, God or self?

Are you a Christian? (Mk. 16:16)

Deceit

 Deceit

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

     Deception happens daily. Some people lose their life savings because they are deceived into giving it to a crook. Others have been deceived into thinking a policeman was at the door, when in fact, it was a criminal preying on them. People are deceived spiritually when they are led to believe that any “religion” and any “religious” person pleases God. Some are deceived into thinking that so long as God “didn’t say not to” do this or that, then it is authorized. Deceit will blind men to the truth and rob men of their souls if they die in that condition.

            We are warned against being deceived no less than six times in the Bible (Deut. 11:16; Lk. 21:8; I Cor. 6:9, 15:33; Gal. 6:7; I Jn. 3:7). Unfortunately, many do not heed these warnings. The deceit in the hearts of men grows and grows. Paul said, “But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (II Tim. 3:13). Do you want to be counted in this number?

            When people today allow the theories and ideas of men to taint their understanding of the Scriptures, then they are being deceived. Friends, many passages in the Bible are so simple that a man would need help to misunderstand them! Yet, I am afraid that many are getting “help” that they do not need! Please note three everyday deceptions that ensnare men today.

 

The Theory of Evolution

            The theories of men that teach that we are descended from lower forms of life deceive many! It is woven into the fabric of our society, as we see it taught in schools, broadcast on television and the internet, and it seems to permeate every aspect of our lives and thoughts. The Biblical account of creation is considered laughable to the majority of people on Earth. It has even made inroads with Christians who try to combine two philosophies and speak of “theistic evolution”!

            The truth is that God made this world and all living things (Gen. 1-2; Acts 17:24; Ps. 33:6-9). He made men whole, and as distinct sexes “at the beginning” (Matt. 19:4-6). The Bible says men were created at the beginning of the world, literally, on the sixth day (Gen. 1:26-28). Man was not created 6,000,000,000, 6,000,000, 6000, 60, 6 years, or even 6 months after God created the world, but on the 6^th day of Creation (Ex. 20:11, 31:17)!

 

Saying That All “Religious” People Are Saved

            Just because one has religious fervor does not mean he is right with God. The Jews had “a zeal toward God,” yet Paul prayed that “they might be saved” (Rom. 10:1-3). He noted the Athenians were “very religious” because of their varied altars for worshipping many gods (Acts 17:22), but they were not saved (Acts 17:30). Religious fervor alone will not save anyone! We must be obedient to God’s truth (Heb. 5:9)!

 

Justifying Actions Based Upon God’s Silence

            Many false doctrines have been justified because God was silent. God’s silence does not permit action, but prohibits it! The reason Christ could not be a priest on earth was because of God’s silence (Heb. 7:12-14). Paul said whatever we do or say must be by the authority of Christ (Col. 3:17). How do we know what is authorized? We know it when we read it in God’s Book. How regularly are we reading the Bible so that we might not be deceived by men (Jn. 17:17)?

 

“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

“Characteristics Of Preachers” (6/8/25)

 “Characteristics Of Preachers”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

 

Knowing that the preacher, due to the public nature of his work, is subject to public scrutiny and criticism from time to time, I thought it would be good for us to examine what God considers godly characteristics of a preacher of the gospel. Many are confused as to the nature of a preacher’s work, and how he ought/ought not be. Let us take the Bible and learn what ought and ought not be a part of the preacher’s life. While we could study this subject in various ways and from multiple Bible passages, in keeping with our monthly Bible reading schedule, I have chosen to focus this article on I Thessalonians 2:1-12. Please read that section of Scripture, and then study with me. Godly characteristics of the preacher include:

Boldness (v. 2)

                   Boldness is missing from much of our preaching today. Yet, this was characteristic of Paul’s preaching (Acts 13:46, 14:3). In fact, such an attitude is encouraged no less than 31 times in the Scripture. It is imperative that we be “bold,” i.e., “to be frank in utterance, or confident in spirit and demeanor .... to venture plainly” (Strong’s) in our preaching. There is a world of lost sinners to teach, and Satan fights daily to try to keep them in his clutches. However, armed with the “sword of the Spirit” and wearing “the whole armor of God” (Eph. 6:13-18), let us be bold and attack his strongholds and win those precious souls to Christ. This is what the folks did in the first century, and it is what needs to be done today.

“Speaking The Gospel In Much Contention” (v. 2)

                   Let no one deceive himself into thinking that preaching is “easy” and “free from worry.” A casual reading of Acts 17:4-8 lets us know that when the apostle Paul was in Thessalonica, he had to deal with contention (“an effort or anxiety:--conflict, fight, race,” Strong’s) among the people who did not like the message of the gospel! In like manner, we will face much of the same thing when we proclaim the word of God boldly to people who do not wish to yield their will to God’s and repent. Preaching the gospel is not for the faint of heart, nor the thin-skinned!

Not Deceitful … Guile (v. 3)

                   The apostle Paul had no intention of misleading people, but spoke the truth clearly (Rom. 9:1; II Cor. 11:31; Gal. 1:20; I Tim. 2:7). Any man who wishes to preach must be honest (Rom. 12:17; II Cor. 13:7-8; Eph. 4:29; Col. 3:9). Dishonesty/Deceit will ruin a man’s reputation and his effectiveness in the spreading of the gospel. After all, if we cannot trust a man to speak the truth concerning “earthly” things, how can we trust him if he tells us about “heavenly” things? Despite what some may say, we cannot separate our “religion” from the other aspects of our lives!

“Not As Pleasing Men, But God .... Nor Of Men Sought We Glory” (v. 4, 6)

                   Let the preacher never forget who he is serving! Paul told the Galatians, “If I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). Preachers work for the Lord, and with the brethren! Let there be no mistake about that. Reversing the prepositions in that phrase is the recipe for apostasy. Those who try to please men rather than God are like those described in II Timothy 4:3-4. They are like the people described in Galatians 1:6-9, where the apostle said they should be “anathema” for changing the words of God.

Not Using Flattering Words (v. 5)

                   Flattering words, such as insincere praise or exaggerated compliments, do nothing to help a lost soul who needs to repent of sin. Christ taught His apostles not to use such words (Matt. 23:7-12). Even in Job’s day, Elihu knew not to “accept a man’s person” nor “give flattering titles unto man” (Job 32:21). Let us learn that lesson today!

Not Covetous (v. 5)

                   A preacher preaching for money will not preach for the Lord (I Tim. 6:10)! God said covetousness is idolatry (Col. 3:5). This fact has not changed. Unfortunately, some claim to be preachers, but are, in fact, idolaters because they are covetous. Yes, may every preacher be paid according to his work (I Cor. 9:14), but let God defeat every man preaching for money. I thank God for men like the apostle Paul who sacrificed in years gone by, and that the gospel was preached around the world, and that souls were (and are) saved.

“Gentle” (v. 7)

                   Preachers must remember to be gentle in dealing with people. Men, like sheep, must be led to the living water, not driven (Jn. 4:10, 14; Ps. 23:2). Let us show gentleness to those who are lost, as well as to the saved. There is a time for having “compassion, making a difference” and a time to “save with fear, pulling them out of the fire” (Jude 22-23). “Boldness” and “gentleness” are not contradictory. This chapter makes that clear (v. 2, 7). A preacher must be both! There are times when people need gentleness. Remember, we have all been lost in sin (Rom. 3:23), and showing some gentleness when folks are vulnerable can make all the difference in the world (Gal. 6:1)!

Sacrificial (v. 8)

                   A preacher of the gospel will be like Paul, who said, “We were willing to have imparted unto you … our own souls because ye were dear to us.” To the Corinthians, Paul wrote, “I will very gladly spend and be spent for you; though the more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved” (II Cor. 12:15). Serving in the work of a preacher demands sacrifice. Often, men sacrifice time with their families, they sacrifice “climbing the corporate ladder,” and they make many other sacrifices to serve God and spread His word. This is not a drudgery, for they gladly do it, as Paul said. Yet, let us never forget that a faithful preacher will willingly sacrifice himself if he thinks this will help one more soul go to Heaven!

“The Gospel Of God” (v. 8-9)

                   This is the focus of the preacher’s teaching and work (II Tim. 4:2). Paul reminded the Thessalonians that “we preached unto you the gospel of God” (v. 9). This was his motivation in every place that he went (I Cor. 1:17, 2:2, 5). This must be the preacher’s motivation today. There is a world of lost people that need to be saved before it is too late (II Cor. 6:2). A faithful preacher of the gospel will be stirred as Paul was in Athens (Acts 17:16-17) and as Jeremiah was before the Jews (Jer. 20:9). He will look for ways to spread the gospel so that as many people as possible have the opportunity to be saved. The Thessalonians had been instilled with this same drive, for they were motivated to spread God’s word throughout “Macedonia and Achaia” and “every place” (I Thess. 1:8)! The “gospel of God” saves us (Rom. 1:16). Let us demand the gospel be taught daily!

“Labor and Suffering” (v. 9)

                   A stereotype often joked about is one of the “lazy preacher who works two hours a week.” While this is not true of the vast majority of those preaching the gospel, a preacher mustn’t be guilty of contributing to the stereotype! Preaching God’s word is work from beginning to end (II Tim. 4:5; Col. 1:28-29). When we forget this, we open ourselves up to covetousness, i.e., just preaching for the money! (see: v. 5)

Behaving “Holily And Justily And Unblameably” (v. 10)

                   How necessary it is that our behavior reflect what we preach! This is true whether we preach from the “pulpit” or preach from the “kitchen table”! Our behavior needs to reflect our teaching. In other words, practice what we preach! When we look into the Bible, we see that there are many good people for us to follow. For example, what the apostle Paul taught is what he practiced (I Cor. 9:27, 11:1). In like manner, Ezra of old practiced what he taught, as did Jesus (Ezra 7:10; Acts 1:1). Brethren, do your actions match your preaching? Some need to repent!

Exhorting, Comforting, and Charging (v. 11)

                   This is the final responsibility noted in this section. The preacher is to “exhort,” “comfort,” and “charge” that men and women, “walk worthy of God who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory” (v. 12)! Paul’s prayer for the Colossians was that they might do this as well (Col. 1:9-10). How this type of living is needed today! Christians need to be reminded of who they are serving and why. Let us then use I Thessalonians 2 as an exhortation to walk worthy of God that we might see Heaven one day.

Conclusion

                   As you studied this chapter, did you notice that these characteristics need to be in all Christians, and not just the “preacher”? Think about it!

“Making Mention Of You In Our Prayers” (6/1/25)

 “Making Mention Of You In Our Prayers”

Jarrod M. Jacobs

The apostle Paul says on several occasions that he is praying for the brethren. One of these times is when he writes to the Thessalonians (1:2). As this letter begins, Paul says he (and Silvanus and Timothy) are praying for them. What might a prayer from Paul sound like? What might he pray for the brethren?

            In answering this question, we do not have to guess or conjecture. The focus of their prayer was stated in verse 3: “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father.” This says a great deal about the brethren at Thessalonica, considering Paul spent a relatively short time with them (Acts 17:1-10).

            Their “work of faith,” “labor of love,” and “patience of hope” left such an impression on him and the others that Paul would tell the brethren that when they prayed, they remembered those characteristics in them. These virtues, demonstrated by the Thessalonians, are not just commendable but also essential for every Christian. They are the foundation of our relationship with God and our interactions with others.

            I find it interesting how Paul describes each attribute. Notice it is a “work of faith.” While this is consistent with Jesus’ teaching (Jn. 6:28-29), this is not the way the world describes faith. Men want to divorce faith from any action or work, even though James tells us that “faith without works is dead” (Jas. 2:26), meaning that our actions evidence true faith. Paul knew how deep their faith was because he saw it in their actions. How do we show our faith today (Jas. 2:18; Rom. 10:16)?

            The Thessalonians’ “labor of love” made an impression on Paul as well. Again, men today might not associate “labor” with “love,” but Paul did! The English word “love” is translated from the word “agape.” “Agape” love is the love that looks out for the best interests of others (Vine’s, p. 702-704). It is a sacrificial love that ought to be in the lives of all Christians. In this case, “agape” love is a decision that is made. We will love others whether or not they love us first. In the case of Paul and the Thessalonians, we can see how their faithfulness to the Lord despite the persecution they faced would be a true “labor of love” (Acts 17:5, 8, 13)! How much do you love others? What kind of labor is it to love some people? Are you still trying, or have you given up (Matt. 22:37-39)? Don’t ever give up on showing that true, sacrificial love toward others (Matt. 5:46-47; I Cor. 13:1-8)!

            Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy also remembered their “patience of hope” (I Thess. 1:3). What did this mean? Understand, the word “hope” in this passage means earnest expectation. This was not a wish or a pipedream, as we often associate with “hope.” Instead, these people had been promised something and expected to receive it! In that expectation, they were patient. This means long-suffering, or enduring to receive the thing for which they hoped! Mr. Thayer includes these thoughts when defining patience: “In the NT the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings” (Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon). Truly, these people stand out in their faithfulness to the Lord. They were going to have to stand and suffer as they looked forward to something better that was to come (II Cor. 4:17)!

            As we read the passage, notice where all of these things originated, “in our Lord Jesus Christ”! It is in this relationship that we can have faith, love, and hope. Dear one, are you “in Christ” or not (Gal. 3:27; Eph. 1:3)? Being “in Christ” makes all the difference in the world! In Christ, we have opportunities to enjoy faith, hope, and love, and to grow in these areas, just like the Thessalonians. These three characteristics, faith, love, and hope, are not fleeting, but they abide in Christ, as Paul said to the Corinthians (I Cor. 13:13).

            In simple terms. Paul was praying that the Thessalonians would remain strong and not give up in their service to God. Let this be our prayer for fellow Christians today. If someone is not a Christian, then become one today (II Cor. 6:2; Mk. 16:16) and then be determined to mature in the Lord like the Thessalonians!