1 Thessalonians 3: Are You Always Abounding In Love?
Verse of the Day: (V12) “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
1. Alone (V1-3)
V1 “Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;”
Though Apostle Paul desired to stay with the Thessalonians Christians to continue to love, encourage, minister and ground them in God’s Word and work, yet he had to depart to Athens alone, because Satan persistently hindered him. However, God’s Word and work never cease as Paul sent another preacher, his spiritual son, Timotheus, to continue the preaching and teaching ministry to strengthen the faith of the Thessalonians Christians.
V2 “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow-labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:”
2. Affliction (V4-8)
V6 “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:”
Paul and his fellow preachers were greatly comforted and encouraged when they heard from Timotheus that though the Thessalonians Christians were afflicted and persecuted because of their faith in Christ, yet they still rejoiced greatly in suffering for Christ’s sake. Indeed, our faith is tested to the fullest when we can still rejoice and trust God even though we are in the midst of great suffering and even impending death for Christ’s sake.
V7 “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:”
3. Abound (V9-13)
V12 “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”
The main reason why Paul and his fellow Christians could endure intense suffering, persecution and even death was because God had richly blessed them with abounding and abundant love for others even their persecutors and enemies. Indeed, we shall be blameless and holy when God richly bless us with His abounding and abundant love!
V13 “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
Prayer of the Day:
Dearest God, please help me to always be abounding in love for You and others.
