Your work of faith - This verse contains a very high character of the believers at Thessalonica. They had Faith, not speculative and indolent, but true, sound, and operative; their faith worked. They had Love, not that gazed at and became enamoured of the perfections of God, but such a love as labored with faith to fulfill the whole will of God. Faith worked; but love, because it can do more, did more, and therefore labored - worked energetically, to promote the glory of God and the salvation of men. They had Hope; not an idle, cold, heartless expectation of future good, from which they felt no excitement, and for which they could give no reason, but such a hope as produced a satisfying expectation of a future life and state of blessedness, the reality of which faith had descried, and love anticipated; a hope, not hasty and impatient to get out of the trials of life and possess the heavenly inheritance, but one that was as willing to endure hardships as to enjoy glory itself, when God might be most honored by this patient endurance. Faith worked, Love labored, and Hope endured patiently.

It is not a mark of much grace to be longing to get to heaven because of the troubles and difficulties of the present life; they who love Christ are ever willing to suffer with him; and he may be as much glorified by patient suffering, as by the most active faith or laborious love. There are times in which, through affliction or other hinderances, we cannot do the will of God, but we can suffer it; and in such cases he seeks a heart that bears submissively, suffers patiently, and endures, as seeing him who is invisible, without repining or murmuring. This is as full a proof of Christian perfection as the most intense and ardent love. Meekness, gentleness, and long-suffering, are in our present state of more use to ourselves and others, and of more consequence in the sight of God, than all the ecstasies of the spirits of just men made perfect, and than all the raptures of an archangel. That Church or Christian society, the members of which manifest the work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope, is most nearly allied to heaven, and is on the suburbs of glory.

Remembering.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now when Timotheus came from you to us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity...

2 Timothy 1:3-5 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience...

your.

1 Thessalonians 2:13,14 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when you received the word of God which you heard of us...

John 6:27-29 Labor not for the meat which perishes, but for that meat which endures to everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give to you...

Romans 16:26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God...

1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be you steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord...

Galatians 5:6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision avails any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which works by love.

2 Thessalonians 1:3,11 We are bound to thank God always for you, brothers, as it is meet, because that your faith grows exceedingly...

Hebrews 4:11 Let us labor therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after the same example of unbelief.

Hebrews 11:7,8,17,24-34 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house...

James 2:17-26 Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone...

Revelation 2:19 I know your works, and charity, and service, and faith, and your patience, and your works; and the last to be more than the first.

and labour.

Genesis 29:20 And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed to him but a few days, for the love he had to her.

Songs 8:7 Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love...

John 14:15,21-23 If you love me, keep my commandments...

John 15:10 If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.

John 21:15-17 So when they had dined, Jesus said to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, love you me more than these? He said to him, Yes...

Romans 16:6 Greet Mary, who bestowed much labor on us.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity braggs not itself, is not puffed up...

2 Corinthians 5:14,15 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead...

2 Corinthians 8:7-9 Therefore, as you abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us...

Galatians 5:13 For, brothers, you have been called to liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another.

Philemon 1:5-7 Hearing of your love and faith, which you have toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints...

Hebrews 6:10,11 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labor of love, which you have showed toward his name...

1 John 3:18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

Revelation 2:2-4 I know your works, and your labor, and your patience, and how you can not bear them which are evil...

and patience.

Romans 2:7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life:

Romans 5:3-5 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation works patience...

Romans 8:24,25 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man sees, why does he yet hope for...

Romans 12:12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

Romans 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now stays faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Hebrews 6:15 And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Hebrews 10:36 For you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.

James 1:3,4 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience...

James 5:7,8 Be patient therefore, brothers, to the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth...

1 John 3:3 And every man that has this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.

Revelation 3:10 Because you have kept the word of my patience, I also will keep you from the hour of temptation, which shall come on all the world...

in the.

Ecclesiastes 2:26 For God gives to a man that is good in his sight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he gives travail...

Acts 3:19 Repent you therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out...

Acts 10:31 And said, Cornelius, your prayer is heard, and your alms are had in remembrance in the sight of God.

2 Corinthians 2:17 For we are not as many, which corrupt the word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ.

1 Timothy 2:3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior;

Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ...

1 Peter 3:4 But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit...

1 John 3:21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.

Of Love to God
I proceed to the second general branch of the text. The persons interested in this privilege. They are lovers of God. "All things work together for good, to them that love God." Despisers and haters of God have no lot or part in this privilege. It is children's bread, it belongs only to them that love God. Because love is the very heart and spirit of religion, I shall the more fully treat upon this; and for the further discussion of it, let us notice these five things concerning love to God. 1. The …
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial