Growing Love
Have you ever been so worried about the future or anything in general that you froze? Have you ever been in the car on your way to a place you have never been before listening to music and the kids talking in the back and trying to focus on the google maps on your phone and reading the road signs but can’t focus so you turn the music down and tell everyone to be quiet so you can read the signs? The noise was so loud that you had to silence everything else to focus on what was in front of your eyes.
God has the desire for us to see one another and to love one another. He desperately wants for us to show love to be examples of what the church is supposed to look like. He wants us to slow down and not let all the noise get in the way. Paul was so proud of the Thessalonians, about 2,000 years ago, because they were doing this part well after not doing so well in the past.
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4
Paul was literally bragging to the other churches and their leaders about the love the Thessalonians had for one another. He was actually proud of God and showing them that his heart was warmed by it. Gods heart is warmed by it. He knew that God is the reason that their spiritual growth was happening in the first place. What a blessing.
Man, I just want to deep dive with you my friends. Matthew Henry, in his commentary, says that the grace that is being shown to one another in Thessalonica during an intense time of persecution including the murder of some of their church members they are realizing that love for one another is producing faith and that all the glory for that must be given to God. All that noise was silenced by growing faith. What a beautiful situation. They were going through trials in their church, in their very large Roman ruled city of new believers. But they listened to Paul and chose to love one another. Listen to what Paul instructed them in the previous book just a few chapters back.
12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13
Increase in love for one another and for all. Paul knew that these people were going through it. They needed encouragement but they needed solid advice. And shortly after he finished this letter he got a report from Timothy that they were doing exactly what he said to do and the church was feeling so much better. They weren’t living in as much worry. They were moving in the right direction.
Are you loving the people you serve with? Are you with them in faith, giving them grace when they say something that offends you? Are you not even letting it get to the point where it offends at all? I pray that as we serve together we would extend a love like this. Like this ancient city of 100,000 people in Thessalonica. I pray that our grace would abound and that the glory would all go to God.
Keep your ears clear so your vision can be set on what God has placed in front of you. Loving your neighbors, your collegues, your family so that your faith can grow more abundantly. Make Him proud.
Serve Like Jesus!
James
What am I reading?
“Everybody Always” - Bob Goff
Key takeaways
Every single person matters no matter their circumstance or what they have done to you.
You have the chance to show them the love of Jesus, everyday.
Check out the book by clicking the link below