LOVE MORE, BE STRONG! I Thessalonians 3:12-13

Paul the Apostle kind of reminds me of a coach sometimes. I have a friend of mine who calls his team together during a game and says, "Your guys are doing great! Now just..." and then he tells them what he wants them to do. Think about the Thessalonians. They are going through trials and persecution. Things aren't easy but they are hanging in there! So Paul emphasizes a few things he wants them to keep doing.

"May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy  in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones."                   I Thessalonians 3:12-13

The first thing Paul reminds them to keep doing is loving. Don't just love a little or just enough to get by but, love more than you think is enough. Remember, we love because Christ love us! Our aim is to have a love for others that grows and overflows. That is God working in and through your life. Look to love. 

The second thing Paul stresses is that God would strengthen their hearts. We need to look to God. Isn't that what we are doing right now? Seeking God to strengthen us so that we might, as Paul encourages the Thessalonians, be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 

God is our source of love and strength. The reality is you don't know the love of God is really in you until you love someone else. You don't know the strength of God in you until you need to be blameless and holy. At some point today I will need the love of God to deal with someone. I will need the strength of God to be blameless and holy in my actions. He will provide.

Father, we look to you for love that increases and overflows. We call upon you to strengthen us to stand the tests we will face today! Praise be to you in us today! Thanks you, Lord!