“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; .”- 1 Thess 1:2-4

Paul  thanked God for what He was working in the lives of the people  and communicates to them of his reason they were giving him to be THANKFUL to God for them.

“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father

* your WORK produced by FAITH,

* your LABOR prompted by LOVE, and

* your ENDURANCE, inspired by HOPE IN our Lord Jesus Christ.”

They were giving evidence of being chosen by Him. Their lives were reflecting salvation! WHAT A “TRINITY” of beauty and benefits for others  HE PRODUCES as He changes lives. To be “ALWAYS thanking GOD for you all …” Paul offers Him thanks for what is been produced in their lives and then he writes to encourage them of how their lives are fuel for his thanksgiving to God. Paul and others are “always,” there is a consistency of thankfulness to God in their praying to Him spurred by the reality of what their lives are displaying of a faith that works. A love that labors. A hope in Christ, that inspires endurance. Their lives were inspiring Paul and companions when they thought of them to incite in a good way, stimulating THANKSGIVING To God. They were not “perfect, flawless ” people,only God is, but a new direction was taking place in and through them and the influence their lives had encouraged those who watched to glorify God for them.

THANKSGIVING GLORIFIES GOD as we learn from Jesus and the one leper who returned.. “and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan…”Was no one found who returned to give glory to God, except this foreigner?” {Luke 17:16,18} THANKSGIVING IS DOING THE WILL OF GOD. “In everything GIVE THANKS, for this IS THE WILL OF GOD for you in Christ. “{ 1 Thess 5:16-17 teaches ). As Paul and fellow believers viewed the Thessalonian believers faith that worked, love that labored, and hope that endured in the LORD Jesus and all this in the presence of God the Father, they Glorified God and were Doing His will in giving Him thanks to him for them.

Their working out their salvation was inspiration and the source of “fuel” for appreciation to God for them and to them … Your life is also counting !!!

1.- Can you think of some people you can thank The LORD for seeing those three evidences in their lives

2. – Can you write or tell THREE of them of what you see in their lives of those three to encourage them ?

3. -Glorify God and Do his Will by choosing to THANK Him for the three graces you see HIM WORKING in and Through the lives of others.

Your Life is Counting…for eternity…