It’s second term and things are about to get serious. We’re still only just recovering from January exams and have deadlines looming. We’re pushing forward until reading week (for those of us lucky enough to get one!) or even just the next free weekend. Energy and motivation can be hard to find.

Normally when I hear the words ‘faith’, ‘hope’ and ‘love’ I think of weddings. I imagine someone at the front of a church full of flowers, declaring “and the greatest of these is love”. And the ceremony continues, the bride and groom kiss and we all leave for the photos. Maybe we remember love… but what were the other two?

Recalling unceasingly before our God and Father your work energized by faith, and your service motivated by love and unwavering hope in [the return of] our Lord Jesus Christ. – 1 Thessalonians 3:1 (AMP)

This encouragement Paul gives to the church really challenges me. In all I do, am I energised and motivated by faith, love and hope in Jesus? Or, when I’m 5 pages into an ocean of reading and my mum calls for a chat, do I feel more irritated than loving. When my housemates are going through their latest crisis, do I have unwavering hope for them or end up discouraged myself?  And when I’m telling my friends about Jesus and inviting them to church, am I energised by faith or a sense of duty?

But since we [believers] belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope and confident assurance of salvation.– 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (AMP)

Faith, hope and love are more than just nice ideas. They are our spiritual armour. They empower us to live out lives that look more and more like Jesus. They remind us why we are doing the things we do, and give us the energy and endurance to keep going and to love it. 

It’s second term and it’s full of opportunities! The challenge is to have faith and let that be our energy. The challenge is to be motivated by love and hope in Jesus. What does that look like for you?