Abounding love

Hello everyone,

How are you doing on this day? I hope well and bubbling in the Lord.

Primary Text

“And may the Lord make you to increase and excel and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you,” 1 Thessalonians 3v12 (AMP)

One of the hallmarks of believers is the love we have for one another (John 13v34). This verse expresses the desire for the love we have for one another and for all people to continue to increase. 1 Corinthians 13v2 tells us that if we do not have love we are nothing. While it might often seem hard to love, we need to remember that through the Holy Spirit we have the love of God already in our hearts (Romans 5v5) and we can put that love into practice. One pastor put it this way – act as you would do if you did love; remembering that love is a fruit so it can grow. And just as was prayed for the church in Thessalonica, we can pray that we would continue to increase, excel, and overflow in love for others and even particular people.

Supplementary Text

“Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily. It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong]. It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail. Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].” 1 Corinthians 13v4-7 (AMP)

Prayer

Father we pray from Philippians 1v9-12 (TLB) that we will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight, that we may always see clearly the difference between right and wrong, and be inwardly clean, that no one would be able to criticize us from now until our Lord returns. May we always be doing good, kind things that show we are children of God, and may much praise and glory be brought to the Lord in Jesus name, amen.