November 14 - Thankful To Remember.

1 Thessalonians 1:2-3
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 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;”
 
Consider for a moment what it is that makes you thankful for someone. 
 
Is it something that they have done for you?
Is it simply for who they are?
 
Paul, Silas and Timothy were giving thanks for the people of the church at Thessalonica.
 
They made it a priority to pray for these people that were dear to their hearts. 
 
They were so thankful for them that they remembered them constantly. 
“Remembering without ceasing…”
 
Has anyone ever made that kind of impact on you?
 
We find three specific reasons they were thankful for them in these verses.
 
“your work of faith”
 
“labour of love”
 
“patience of hope”
 
Each of these reasons were rooted in Christ. 
“… in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;”
 
He was their motive for all that they did.
 
Could someone say that of us?
And if so, enough for them to thank the Lord remembering us in their prayers?
 
What a convicting thought.
May we all strive to live with such a testimony.
 
 
Bible Reading:
Ezekiel 7-8   |    Psalm 80-82