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WORK OF FAITH
MONDAY, OCTOBER 6
1 Thessalonians 1:3

James 2:14-26

 
“Remembering without ceasing

your work of faith…”

 

WORK OF FAITH
 
There are three examplary marks that Paul commended the Thessalonian Christians for: their work of faith, labour of love and patience of hope. This trio of graces succinctly describes a true believer, that they have faith, love and hope, and the work, labour and patience that come about because of it.
 
The “work of faith” (1 Thess 1:3) is the work which stems from one’s faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. The focus here is on the initial act of faith which all Christians exercise when the grace of Christ works in their hearts to cause them to repent and turn towards God. Paul described this as the work that resulted from faith, for elsewhere in Ephesians 2:8, he explained salvation as “for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” Therefore, grace is what enables the believer to first have faith, to repent of his sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. This outworking of one’s inward faith is manifested by the life that is converted and regenerated by the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Such true faith is not just an intellectual acceptance of a logical argument, but it is a life-changing shift that results in a life that is now lived for God. It completely changes one’s whole outlook and perspective towards life, whereby one “turned to God from idols” (1 Thess 1:9). This is the effect that faith will work in the life of any true believer. It is a transformation that ought to be readily witnessed by all around him. It is not, as James described it, a dead faith (James 2:17). It is a faith that will result in works, works that prove that faith is alive.
 
Why do we serve God? Not so that we can be saved, but BECAUSE we are saved. When we have true faith in Christ, our life must now be evidenced by the work of faith – of the change and repentance in our life that comes about because we now trust in a living Saviour. Our whole life changes, because we have faith.
 
THOUGHT: How has my life changed since I believed on the Lord Jesus Christ?
PRAYER: Father, I thank Thee for the work of faith that Thou hast wrought in my life.

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