1 Thessalonians: Active Decision

1 Thessalonians 1:3

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, 

Verse 3 is a continuation of the thoughts in verse 2. This verse describes the people for whom thanks were given in verse 2. 

Remembering: to be mindful of, to call to mind: to think of and feel for a person
Without ceasing: uninterruptedly
Work of faith: an act, deed, thing done; the course of conduct which springs from faith; moral conviction (of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God or a religious teacher), especially reliance upon Christ for salvation
Labor of love: the labor to which love prompts, and which voluntarily assumes and endures trouble and pains for the salvation of others; intense labor united with trouble; love which centers in moral preference; "to prefer" 
Patience: remaining under, endurance; steadfastness, especially as God enables the believer to "remain (endure) under" the challenges He allots in life
Hope: joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation
In the sight of: in the presence of

The one aspect of this verse that I want to focus on, is "labor of love". In an instant gratification society, we have lost the real meaning of longlasting, work through the troubles and turmoils kind of love. 

Look at the definition of love — moral preference, "to prefer". It's a choice! It's an active decision. 

Labor of Love. It's a commitment no matter how hard it gets. You do the work, because of love. And you love through the work. 

But the labor of love is based on the "work of faith". The reliance upon Christ enables one to then perform the labor of love. Faith is what provides the stamina to endure when the troubles arise. 

Remember, it's a choice. A labor of love is an active decision. 

Prayer a Priority

If you are looking for the posts about

God's Amazing Blessing

Announcement—I'm moving!

here's the link to the first Part: 

http://createapositiveday.blogspot.com/2015/05/announcement-part-1-im-moving.html

Then follow the arrows at the bottom of each post to the next Part.

There are 10 parts in all.

I recommend that you read each part, there are amazing details—

and God took care of each and every one! 

______________________________________________

This post is the continuation of my Study of Colossians.

For I bear him testimony that he has labored hard in your behalf and for [the believers] in Laodicea and those in Hierapolis. Colossians 4:13 (AMP)

Paul continues to talk about Epaphras (vs 12, the prayer warrior). 

For I bear him record: The apostle (Paul) was an eye and ear witness of his fervent prayers, his labour of love, and zealous affection for these saints and others; and therefore, as he judged he ought, he bears a testimony for him,

that he hath a great zeal for you: for their spiritual welfare, that the Gospel might continue with them, and they in that, against false teachers, and their attempts to subvert them; that they might grow in the grace of the Gospel, and walk worthy of it, and be at peace among themselves:

and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis: here were many believers, for whom Epaphras had a like zeal and affections as for the Colossians, and to whom very likely he had been useful, either in conversion or edification, or both. John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible

What an awesome testimony to have—a prayer warrior who has labored hard, who is zealous affection for other christians, and who makes prayer a priority. 

I often wonder what our Churches and Nation would be like, if we each were a bit more like Epaphras. If we made deep spiritual prayer a priority. If we went beyond the "get well", "feel better" surface prayers, and prayed earnestly for maturity and confidence in knowing God's will. 

Making prayer a priority and laboring hard on the behalf of believers—begins when my heart is permeated with a deep sense of reverence for God (Acts 9:31 MSG).