2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thessalonians)
Paul couldn't find enough good to say about the people of this church. This long paragraph is full of good things, but even this first sentence gives us a glimpse. They rose to the top in his thoughts and prayers. They were "rememberable". Why? What were the characteristics that made them so memorable? They had a faith that worked: they did not just say they believed; they acted like it. Their trust in God was evident. They also loved, doing things for others sacrificially, like Christ, without any expectation of payment or return. And they kept hoping, looking ahead, both in this life and toward the life to come, waiting for sightings of Jesus, doing things in the world today, as they watched for Him to return at any moment. Is this the way we come of to people. Are they glad they know us? How will we be remembered by those who cross our paths today?
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