Remember the New You

Many times, what we choose to remember determines our future. If we let ourselves forget something important, it could cost us greatly. But if we remember something as it actually was, it can guide us through life in a way that God intends for us.

And what moment is more tremendous than the moment you became a whole new person? If we are to look back and reminisce about anything, what’s better than to remember the new you?

In 1 Thessalonians 1, Paul, Silas, and Timothy remember three signs of fruit in these new believers: faith, love, and hope. They remember their work of faith, their labor of love, and their steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

A Faith That Works

We are not saved by faith plus works. Rather, we are saved by faith that works. There should be good works that proceed from our genuine faith in Jesus Christ.

You may not remember the exact moment you initially repented of your sins and believed the gospel. Not everyone does. But you should be able to see evidence of your salvation somewhere down the line. You should be able to remember the work of faith that flowed out of your salvation.

The Thessalonians were known for turning to God from idols. There was a clear separation from the things they once worshiped to the living and true God.

Can the same be said of you? You may think of idols as wooden or metallic figurines. But what about the attention you give to certain things? Maybe it’s a sport or a sports team. Maybe it’s a news outlet. Maybe it’s social media. Maybe it’s pleasure. Remembering the work of your faith should spur you on to keep turning away from idols and to give more and more of your attention to the Lord.

A Love That Labors

The Thessalonians were also remembered for their labor of love. Their love was an intense, self-sacrificing labor as they served others in the church. They learned how God had labored in love toward them through the gospel, and their response was to labor in love toward Him and others.

It isn’t enough to simply claim to be a Christian. If you are saved, then you need to show it in the way that you lovingly labor to serve the living and true God.

If you continue to draw breath, God has given you some kind of ministry on this earth. You aren’t here to kill time as you wait for your place in glory. You are here because there are people who need you to pray with them, share the gospel with them, or help them in some way.

Remembering the labor of your love should motivate you to keep serving the living and true God and to keep sacrificing more of yourself for others in His name.

A Hope That Is Steadfast

The Thessalonians also had a steadfastness of hope. They endured persecution and temptation to abandon the faith. Their hope was not in their own personal strength or in some vague expectation of a better future. Their hope was built upon the truth that Jesus is coming back.

They did not wait passively. They actively endured harsh persecution with confidence that Jesus was coming back. Remembering the steadfastness of your hope should compel you to actively wait for Jesus to return and to trust Him when times get tough, whether it’s persecution or temptation.

Remember Your Conversion

What you remember about the new you should still be true of you today. The first signs of spiritual fruit—faith, love, and hope—should still be evident in your life today.

Why is there a new you to remember in the first place? Because the gospel is the power of God to save sinners, and the same power that saves sinners sanctifies sinners. The gospel is God’s power to change sinners from the inside out.

God didn’t save you so you can stay the same old you. Jesus saved you to change you. He takes that which is corrupt and makes it pure. He takes that which is wicked and makes it righteous. He takes that which is horrendous and makes it holy. He takes that which is evil and makes it good.

Remember your conversion and the first signs of fruit that it produced. Remember what God has done to save you from your old self and make you new. Give Him thanks. And let that remembering motivate you to keep doing the virtuous things you did at first: put your faith to work, lovingly labor in service to God and others, and hope with steadfastness as you wait for Jesus to return.

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