1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 - Loving like our Father
Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you;
12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;
13 so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
NASU
Thoughts:
We don't usually think of how we love others as affecting our reception of the Lord's return. Who does not want to be without blame in this at His coming?
This is difficult to do though, isn't it? If Paul had left his prescription at "for one another," meaning fellow Christians, that would not be so bad. But when he extends it to "all people," that goes beyond our human ability. We need God to give us this kind of love for a world that is sometimes hostile toward us, as it was this ancient church that was undergoing persecution. Yet, as Jesus commanded us:
Matthew 5:43-45
43 "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR and hate your enemy.' 44 "But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
NASU
In short, we are to love, as He loves.
Prayer:
Give me a heart of love for those I encounter this week. Even those with which there might be a history of strife.
Help me to get my focus off of myself and onto You and others. Give me victory over ingrained thoughts and behavior patterns that are opposite of love. Please, oh God.
Amen
posted by Steve @ 7:01 PM
