remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 1:3 ESV)
“Work of faith, Labor of love, Steadfastness of hope”
Faith, hope, and love, is active. It exerts effort. It perspires, it uses up energy. It is what is remembered because it is what people see. This is what brings glory to God.
Again, this is tested – proved – through affliction, much affliction. But those chosen by God, will have power, has the Holy Spirit, and is living with full conviction.
A christian that lives this kind of testimony is amazing, but a whole church? That is a sight to behold. A church whose faith is known everywhere, and an encouragement to surrounding churches