Today’s sermon text is based on 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10. This is the beginning of St Paul’s letterboxing to what was the very young church at Thessalonica. It’s also likes his earliest serving letter. I will focus especially in verse 2-3, which from the New International Version reads ‘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.’ Part of this verse in many translations reads along the lines of ‘… your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ’ (NRSV). It strikes me that so often we look to ourselves for our motivation. We may not mean to. We may even mean to include God more. But it’s easy to forget. And it’s also easy to seperate our ‘church/faith’ life from the rest, when God sees no such difference. Today we receive the praise of how Christ is at the base of of our work, toil and steadfastness. The giver and the purpose.