Have you ever wondered, “What are the things that define someone who truly is striving wholeheartedly to live for Jesus?” I know for me, I have found myself once again pondering this, desiring to be found in Christ, being fully pleasing to Him in all areas of my life.

In the midst of considering this, I recently began a study in the letter Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonica that we know of as 1 Thessalonians. In this letter, there is the typical Pauline opening, followed by this: “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 of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,…”

It is interesting to note that his gratitude for them does not come from them holding a high view or opinion of him and the work God is doing through him, nor from them having a high, impeccable moral character, nor from them being doctrinally or biblically sound – in subsequent things written to the Thessalonians Paul had to address issues in each of these areas. While many times these are the evaluators we use, especially character and doctrine, as things to “be thankful” for in others, Paul’s thankfulness for the Thessalonians simply came from the presence within the church, and the individual believers themselves, of the three great Christian virtues: faith, love, and hope.

In short, Paul was thankful that they were thus “employed and occupied” by the living out of their faith (work of faith), that they were “intensely toiling, troubled even to the point of being grieved in effort” in their desire to share the love (agape’) of Christ with one another (labor of love), and that they were “being active while steadfastly waiting, with much endurance” for the realization of their hope in Christ (patience of hope).

As I have pondered this today, it has lent insight into the question asked at the beginning of this post. It seems to me that the presence of these three “virtues” in a believers life, in accordance with Paul’s description of them here in this passage, is paramount to living a life fully pleasing to God. As such, I am compelled to ask myself, “Do these have their proper place in my life? Are the things Paul is thankful for in the Thessalonians’ lives present in mine? Would others be thankful for me in that same way?” These are challenging and convicting questions… questions that spur me on, in faith, to say, “Lord search me… try me… show me…” areas of my life that need to change such that I would be viewed as a person occupied in faith, fervent in love, and steadfast in hope.

How ’bout you?

Until next time… abound in faith, hope, and love!