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 Thessalonians 3:12 (KJV)
Thoughts on Today’s Verse…
God is love. God is also the source of love. He pours love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). So, how do we make our churches, our families, our small groups, and communities more loving? We pray for God to grow the love in those in groups, letting them know that we are praying for them, and then communicate and demonstrate our love to those very same groups in words and actions. As John wrote to early believers: Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth (1 John 3:18).
My Prayer…
Father, use me to help be an example of love to those around me. Please pour your love into my heart through your Spirit, as you promised, and then help me channel that love out into the lives of others. Please empower the love in our congregations, schools, and families to grow pervasively and generously, so that the world may know that you sent Jesus. May our love not just be known among us, but also to those around us who are not part of your Kingdom family. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
All scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House.
