How important are the little words of our great language! How inarticulate it would be without them! As confusing and distressing as were the words written on the wall in the sight of Belshazzar!

But our God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved (and still loves) us, in His wisdom uses the small words to express His thoughts to us. May we bow in His presence, realizing He delights to point us to the One who of Him is made unto us Wisdom, Righteousness, Sanctification and Redemption (1 Cor. 1:30).

The three words which form our theme are found in 1 Thess. 1:3, connected with other words of equal importance by one little word, "of." The entire verse reads thus:"Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope, in our Lord Jesus 'Christ, in the sight of God and our Father."

The Thessalonians had heard the gospel, and as a result of believing it, had turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven. What now is the proof of their faith? Their work-the work of faith. God had seen their faith in Christ, and had accounted it to them for righteousness, and if their Father in heaven is to be glorified, men must see their works, though they could not see the spring, the motive power, which pleased God (Heb. 11:6). The apostle Paul in his epistle to Titus mentions "good works" six times. This shows the place works had in his heart. May we follow his example and seek to be zealous of good works.

Then comes labor, a much stronger word. One might work without laboring, but if one labors, he necessarily has to work. The word means toil, trouble, uneasiness. It is a task, and no easy one usually when one labors at it. But two words mark the labor of the Thessalonian saints. It was one "of love." This did not change their toil, but it changed the character of it. It is easy to labor for those we love. It was love for His Father that led the Lord Jesus to accomplish the work given Him to do, and love to the Church that led Him to give Himself for it. That deep eternal love caused Him to "work" and to "labor," and this is what we see in the Cross. Who could know the full value of such a work? And who could realize and understand the labor-pains as the forsaken One travailed in soul in order that souls might be born of God? None indeed but God!

We come to the third word-patience. This implies the thought of waiting with calmness and without anxiety. But there might be a patience born of stoicism, of knowing that we cannot alter events, and therefore must bear trial whether we like it or not. This is not the patience here spoken of. The little word "of" again comes in, and brings peace and joy for the young as well as the aged believer in Christ. It is the "patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." "My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from Him" (Ps. 62:5). The same One in whom these dear saints had faith was placed before them as their Hope. And as they waited for God's Son from heaven, they were waiting for no uncertain thing-"He that shall come will come, and will not tarry" (Heb. 10:37). There was no need to cast away their confidence; they were assured it would have "great recompense of reward" when their Lord would return. This hope made trials light. It made them (and us too) companions with John of old in tribulation and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ. There was much for them to encounter, as well as ourselves, but considering Him, who endured such contradiction of sinners against Himself, they manifested their patience of hope. Now for their encouragement the apostle writes assuring them that their work, labor, and patience were remembered by him and those with him, and that continual prayer was made for them. How stimulating this must have been to them! What encouragement for their perseverance! And if all that they had done was remembered by a man who said, "I am what I am but by the grace of God," shall it be forgotten by Him who says, "Behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with Me. to give every man according as his work shall be?" (Rev. 22:12). "Wherefore we labor, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of Him." "For we must all appear before the judgment-seat of Christ" (2 Cor. 5:7, 9,10). "If we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it" (Rom. 8:25). May we follow the example of the Thessalonian saints, so that "of" may be added to our work, labor, and patience. J. S. Hall