The guilt free Thessalonians

I had a look at the 1 Thessalonians today. I got grabbed by verse 3.

"3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

What grabbed me was simple. The question 'why?'

Why were the Thessalonians working for the Lord?
Why did they labour to help those around them?
Why did they keep at it when other might fall?

Was it because they felt obliged to work through guilt over the death of Christ?
Was it because they were obeying a set of rules that said they had to labour?
Was it because they felt they had to beat themselves up to ensure that they stayed on the straight and narrow, and endured all that came their way?

NO!

Everything they did - and Paul was so complimentary about them, everything they did was as a result of faith, love and hope. Everything.

They did what they did not out of obligation, but out of faith!
They did what they did not to obey a set of rules, but out of love!
They did what they did not because they felt they had to beat themselves up to ensure that they stayed on the straight and narrow, but because of hope!

How cool is that?

Rules don't change the world.
Obligation doesn't change the world.
Self criticism doesn't change the world.

Faith, Love and Hope do!