A Clay Jar

Encouraging, comforting, and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. (1 Thess. 2:12 NIV)

Increasing in Love

1 Thessalonians 3:12

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May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. (1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIV)

Love seems to come easy for some people. They just seem to naturally care about other people and want to help them. But for others of us, it is hard. I can easily love my family as well as close friends. But loving the homeless guy on the street is a real challenge. It almost seems beyond me to love some people.

But, contrary to our normal usage, love is not just an emotional feeling. So often, we think that loving another person involves having positive emotional feelings for them. We think that we need to have warm cuddly feelings for that homeless person in order to love them.

But love is much more than that. It is a conscious choice of the will; choosing to do what is best for another. And that is something I can do. While I may not be able to change my emotions at will, I can choose to do what is best for another person. Even the homeless beggar.

And that is really what Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonian church is here. That the Lord would help their love to increase more and more. Especially for others within their community of faith. Never reaching a plateau, but ever growing.

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Ed Jarrett

Just an old clay jar that God continues to see fit to use in his kingdom's work. I am retired, married with 2 children, and 4 grandchildren. I have followed Jesus for many years. And I love to share what He has given me from His word.

A Note to Readers

The views expressed here are solely mine and do not necessarily reflect those of any other person, group, or organization. While I believe they reflect the teachings of the Bible, I am a fallible human and subject to misunderstanding. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions about this post in the comments section below. I am always interested in your feedback.

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