Smack in the middle of Bible Study come a few verses which are my undoing. Paul writes to the Thessalonians on loving one another. His words pierce as they come from a man who loves well because he himself has been the recipient of God’s love. He had learned firsthand the importance of love.
Let’s peak in on what Paul has to say to this band of believers and to us today:
- We must learn to love. “But we don’t need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another”
(1 Thessalonians 4:9, NLT). God Himself teaches us how to love like Him. Our personalities are so varied, as well as our quirks, and loving can be a challenge at times. We will have opportunities to practice love every day, but will never fully master this. We will ever be learning to love like Him. - The ability to love comes from God. “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8, NLT). Oh, that we would never think we love because of anything in ourselves.
- Love even more. And just when we think we have loved so well or so fully, Paul says to us “we urge you to love them even more” (1 Thessalonians 4:10, NLT). We are not to set a limit on the extent of our love. “Love even more.” “Go further”, Paul urges us. Our love is to overflow, abound for one another, be without limit.
Prayer: Lord, these Scriptures have been challenging me. Help me to love even when I think I have loved sufficiently. Help me to love them even more. Amen.ÂÂ
May we love because we know we have been loved.
I agree, these are great, and challenging Scriptures. It is reassuring to remember that love comes from God and is not something we have to work up for ourselves. And as we know his love more for ourselves it definitely helps us to love others better.
Lesley, I so appreciate how you worded it … “As we know his love more for ourselves it definitely helps us to love others better.” His love has so many dimensions which are at work in our lives.
Such good truth today, Joanne! I am about to slip into some quiet worship with this song! Thank you!
The song has blessed me the last few days and I am glad it will now bless you!
Dear Joanne, what a challenging scripture! When we’re at the end of our rope, done all we think we can do, and been kicked in the teeth for, our Heavenly Father bids us to “love them even more”. My head and heart pound from just thinking about it…and knowing that’s what I should do. Thank you, Dear Sister in Christ, for being the brave messenger of God’s good word!
Alice, trust me I was speaking to myself most of all. We must dig deep so that we can love deeply and yes, even more. May He help us to love well.
I’ve missed that in my reading so I’m glad to see you point this out, Joanne: “love even more.” There’s always room for that, no matter how good or bad we think we are doing already.
Lisa, those words so stood out to me. We can so think we have done good or loved well and He says to us, “Love them even more”. Don’t stop or set a limit.
I needed to especially hear the first point you made–we all love differently. I just finished Everybody Always by Bob Goff, and was starting to wonder if I had to wave my arms around and hug people all the time to show my love ;). I can love in other ways if I’m not a hugger or an arm waver.
Anita, as I read your comment, I suddenly thought … here you are worried about having to wave your arms or hug people all the time. But not everyone wants to be hugged 🙂 Grateful God has wired us all differently so that we all can give and receive love in the best way we are able.
And I want to read Everybody Always over the summer. Bob Goff always challenges me to “love them even more”.
Blessings!
Those are the words we need to hear. Just when we think we’ve done everything we can do and are ready to give up. Even then: Love Even More!
It’s amazing how we see these little hidden nuggets.