1 Thessalonians is one of Paul’s earliest letters. He opens by commending the believers in the church and giving thanks for them. So much, here, but one phrase really stands out to me, this morning. Paul writes about their “steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:3). In the letter, Paul is much concerned about the end times and the Thessalonians’ encouragement. I glanced at my ESV study notes, which provide this: “work . . . labor . . . steadfastness. These are the practical outworking of the Thessalonians’ conversion. The ‘work’ the Thessalonians do is a result or consequence of their ‘faith.’ So, too, their ‘labor’ flows from ‘love,’ and their endurance or ‘steadfastness’ comes from ‘hope.’”
We see many “confessions of faith” and people sort of hanging around the periphery of the church and religion. Those, however, who have a steadfastness of hope are those who are truly converted and, in the face of opposition, in the face of death, and looking toward Jesus’ return, are strengthened through their unshakable faith in Jesus Christ. Even in a world in which so much goes wrong, these are those who can live their lives with hope and joy. Let us be those folks.
Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
. . .
Perfect submission, all is at rest.
I in my Savior am happy and bless’d,
watching and waiting, looking above,
filled with his goodness, lost in his love. [Refrain]
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long.
This is my story, this is my song,
praising my Savior all the day long. –Fanny Crosby (1873)