1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 NASB95
We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; [3] 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,
The literal translation of verse 3 should actually be this; “constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope of our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father.” The only difference is that instead of the words “… hope IN our Lord Jesus Christ,” it is “…hope OF our Lord Jesus Christ…”
The difference is huge. At the beginning of this verse, Paul says that he constantly bears in mind their faith, love, and steadfastness of hope, but he contradicts himself by saying that the faith, love, and steadfastness of hope were of our Lord Jesus Christ. In other words, it was the work of faith, the labor of love, and the steadfastness of hope of Jesus. So, which one is it; the Thessalonians faith, love and steadfast hope, or the faith love and steadfast hope of Jesus? The clear answer is YES!! Because we are in Christ, and the Christian life is Jesus living His life through us, therefore our work of faith and labor of love and steadfast hope is actually Jesus doing that through us. We live by His faith, His love, and His steadfastness of hope. I can walk into every situation, thanking Him that He has faith for it. I can walk into every relationship and ministry opportunity and thank Him for His love for that person, and I can face every relentless battle resting in His steadfast hope for it.
I love what it says at the end of verse 3, where we were told that all this happens “in the presence of our God and Father.” Jesus lives His life perpetually before the Father’s presence, and because I’m in Christ, I get to participate in that glorious reality. The whole dance of the life of Christ being lived through us happens in the presence of the Father, who loves and enjoys us the same way He loves and enjoys Jesus. Indeed, Jesus came that we might have life and life more abundantly.