3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faith led to work, love led to labor, hope led to endurance. The outworking of the Christian faith is not a mysterious process. When someone is a Jesus-follower certain things are evident in their lives. The process of change that takes place follows a distinctive, predictable pattern. This verse presents three vital aspects of the process. The first starts with faith, that trust in God’s version of reality as contrasted with our version. Of course His version conforms to reality at all points while ours only touches at a few points. But when we have faith, when we understand life from God’s perspective, then we are motivated to live in accordance with that reality. We see the natural outgrowth of faith in works. Just as an apple tree produces apples, so a person who has faith produces works. The same is true when we know God’s love. When we are loved our energies get focused toward eternal things, long-range planting and watering. When we know God’s love for us experientially we respond in love toward others. We will both enjoy the benefits of love ourselves and the benefit of being a channel through whom God’s love flows. When we have hope, that solid, concrete that anchors our lives in God, then we are able to weather the storms of life without fear of being dislodged and set adrift to float aimlessly in the turbulent sea of this life’s troubles. These three, faith, hope, and love, form the central core of the Christian faith. They are the Jesus-follower’s big three. When they are present in our lives things happen both to us and to those around us. If I am not seeing and experiencing endurance, what do I need to do to get it? Experience hope! If I am lacking the outgrowth of labor in my life? Experience love! If my life is lacking evidence of works? Exercise faith! And in our world of turmoil who doesn’t need more hope, love and works!
The Arnold Journey 