“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” 1 Thessalonians 1:3
There’s nothing more personal than having faith in Jesus Christ. But don’t confuse your faith being personal with keeping it private. There should be evidence of your faith; proof that you follow Jesus. Even though things like faith, hope, and love aren’t tangible, how they work in and through your life should be plain to see. So, is the evidence of your faith noticeable?
Paul commended the Thessalonian believers, not just for having faith, love, and hope but for how they expressed those things in daily life. The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Thessalonians 1:3 AMP). Their personal relationship with Jesus was on display in their good works and service to the Lord.
That doesn’t mean doing things with the intention of showing off how much faith we have. Our works and good deeds should be inspired by faith, not pride. Remember, faith is simply believing and acting as if everything God says is true. That kind of trust and confidence in the Lord and His promises cannot be hidden in everyday life.
Also keep in mind that working faith is the proof of saving faith—not the earning of it. In other words, the evidence of our salvation is in the working of our faith. “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself…I will show you my faith by my works’” (James 2:17–18).
None of this is possible without yielding to the Holy Spirit. He provides the energy to live out our faith. In fact, it’s impossible to live an authentic Christian life without His supernatural energy. He provides the power and the conviction to be all God calls us to be (John 16:8-15).
And authentic Christianity is contagious. Lost people are watching those who profess to follow Jesus. When your good works are motivated by genuine faith in Jesus, someone notices. When your acts of service are motivated by love and unwavering hope in Christ, someone notices. So while your faith is deeply personal, it’s not meant to be private. Determine today to rely on the Holy Spirit’s power, and let the evidence of your faith shine for all to see!