Work of Faith, Labor of Love, Hope in Jesus

Trouble in the Text: The Thessalonians were in need of the way of God’s labor of love.

Thessalonica was a populous and religious city, a city with many gods and altars; at the crossroads of many trade routes between Macedonia & Achaia (Greece), and Asia (Turkey). So much so, that they had their own magistrates and ability to plan out their own city.

This is where Paul ended up when he left Philippi on his second missionary journey.

Those that welcomed the Gospel in Thessalonica had quickly become dear to Paul, and he was content to remain as one of them, not accepting any title of authority among them.

Though there were few exceptions of some well-known ladies, most of these people would be considered common laborers. This becomes evident when we read that Paul worked while he was with them, that he would not be a burden to them.

Paul writes to them being “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,” having no uncertainty about their faith, he goes on to write a glowing chapter of thankfulness for their faith.

Paul remembers their “work produced by faith,” “labor prompted by love,” and “endurance inspired by their hope in Jesus Christ.”

Paul refers to them as “brothers and sisters loved by God” and that God had “chosen” them.

But, Paul does not put the reason on the Thessalonian believers but on God, not just using words but with the power of the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.

Trouble in the World: We need to understand the way of the master, God’s labor of love.

Have you ever learned from a master crafter? Maybe you took some music lessons or someone great in your field or workplace mentored you.

When I started to repair and build computers, I made more problems and false-starts than I cared to admit. Some of my mistakes I did not understand until years later. It took digging in, learning from others who had more experience than I did, or at least understood the principles.

When someone begins a new craft or build something new, usually it takes time watching others go through the process of creation first and viewing many versions of the end result.

One way we have helped others learn a new craft is by mentoring and guiding through apprenticeship. Usually, the apprentice takes much time observing the process and completing mundane but necessary tasks to fill the time. As time goes on, they are allowed by the master crafter to do small portions of an artwork or product that can be easily corrected if a mistake is made. With time and learned skills the apprentice may be given more responsibility in the process. When both master and apprentice have achieved a peak, they work together to complete many works. Eventually, it is assumed, when the master crafter begins to experience physical difficulties in completing a work, the apprentice would become a master themselves, taking on the brunt of the work, and taking on an apprentice themselves.

Years ago, this is how a successful work could be accomplished from one generation to the next.

Now, many terrible things are being made by mindless reproduction with little care for a well-honed, fully-mature, reliable and beautiful product.

Were there more master crafters...

Grace in the Text: Paul was sent to the Thessalonians to show them God’s labor of love.

It is because of the work done among the Thessalonians by the Holy Spirit that they became imitators of Jesus and the Apostles who came to them and shepherd them.

Because they welcomed the message of the Gospel in the midst of their lowly state and persecution, they were given joy by the Holy Spirit.

This is the faith that was made a popular model throughout Macedonia, Achaia and from them to everywhere.

Their reception of the message, and thereby the message-bringers became well known, because they had received the message so thoroughly that they turned from worshipping gods and idols of their families and culture to serve the only, living and true God.

Not only were their lives changed in that moment, but they also were given an enduring hope in Jesus Christ who gave his life for their would return and rescue them from the wrath/judgment of God.

The Greek word used here, orgē, refers in this context to God’s judgment upon the wicked. The believers of Thessalonica are encouraged to not mistake affliction and persecution (thlipsis) for God’s final judgment on the wicked (orgē).[1]

Jesus makes us an offer to be an apprentice of his. When Jesus called his followers “disciples,” this is the kind of relationship he was talking about.

Mark Schelske – The 7 Commitments of an Apprentice of Jesus

Commitment 1 – Decide to Accept the offer.

Following Jesus is not a program. Apprenticeship starts with a decision. We decide Jesus is worth learning from, quite simply, that he knows what he’s talking about.

Commitment 2 – Learn

The second of the commitments is to learn. That’s the whole point of being an apprentice, really. We commit to learning about Jesus and Jesus’ teaching as deeply and intimately as we can.

Commitment 3 – Let Go

The third commitment of an apprentice is to let go. Once we’ve decided we trust Jesus to guide us and we’re actively learning His teaching and character, next we stop holding back certain areas of our lives.

Commitment 4 – Practice

The fourth commitment of apprentices of Jesus is to practice. Maybe this sounds crazy, but we actually do what we learn from Jesus about life. In the way you treat people, in the choices you make, in the attitudes you have, we practice Jesus’ way.

Commitment 5 – Pray

The fifth of the commitments is to Pray. Talk to Jesus about your life. Do it every day. The apprentice relationship is a two-way conversation. The master teaches. The apprentice learns and practices. But they also talk. The master corrects and challenges. The apprentices asks questions.

Commitment 6 – Enroll [This is enrolling to give yourself entirely to the lifestyle.]

The sixth commitment of an apprentice of Jesus is to enroll. When you choose to follow Jesus, you become a part of something bigger than yourself. The Body of Christ.

Commitment 7 – Mentor

The final commitment is to become a part of the apprenticeship chain. In 1st Corinthians 1:11 Paul said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.” This is the model of apprenticeship. Jesus leads the way. We follow Jesus. Along the path, we get practical guidance from those ahead of us, and we share what we’ve learned with those behind us.

The Thessalonians welcomed the apprenticing life of the disciple under the example of Jesus Christ and the Apostles sent to shepherd them, and the results of changed lives became well know.

Grace in the World: God sends us out to others to show them God’s labor of love.

We are not given the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to sit on it, we are called into the apprenticeship of Jesus, so that we will be enabled in maturity of the Fruit of the Spirit by the very Spirit of God, to take the message to others, calling them into the apprenticeship of Jesus Christ.

This is a new life, a changed life, a Spirit-enabled life that transforms the whole of Creation. This crafting process of the Spirit brings us to becoming a completed work of Creation in the image of God, known everywhere for our eternal beauty.

Would you take that call of eternal beauty of the image of God out to your neighbors?