Abound in Love

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Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 (ESV)

{M}ay the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Devotion:

            Yesterday we celebrated a day set aside for giving thanks for all the good gifts the Lord has brought our way in the last year. However, for most Americans Thanksgiving is quickly forgotten in the rush toward Christmas. Most eyes will turn from plates overflowing with food to carts overflowing with merchandise. The afternoon naps following the consumption of so much food will turn into the hustle and bustle of buying presents for family and friends. Paul reminds us that our priority should be loving our neighbors.

            It is easy to take God for granted in the post-Thanksgiving rush. This is ironic because without God’s gift of Jesus we would have no occasion for all the shopping that takes up so much of our time and money. This scripture passage urges us to be full of love for one another, not just during this season but in every season of life. Paul urges us to take time every day to give thanks and love those who are dear to us. Resisting the urge to follow the culture into this season of buying and selling will be hard, but that is what we are called to do.

            If we can make thanksgiving a habit. Something we do every day or at least every week. Then we will be able to love God and others more and more as time passes. Thanksgiving is not a day to be celebrated and then forgotten. Thanksgiving for the Christian it is to be a way of life. Just as much as living out the fruit of the Spirit is.

            Jesus knows that loving our neighbors well and consistently is hard work. That is why He sent His Holy Spirit to fill us. If we submit to God’s rule in our life, we will abound in love for all people. Instead of carts overflowing with presents we are to have hearts overflowing with love. We are to do this and be thankful that God loved us so much he sent Jesus to die for our sins and be resurrected so that we could have eternal life in Him. We need to meditate on the love of Jesus during this upcoming Advent season. Let us pray that we will center our hearts on our God.

Prayer:

            Father in heaven, may we be filled more and more with thanksgiving and love for you and for all people during this season. Let us, therefore, seek to be submissive to the will of Jesus for our lives. Help us to seek out those most in need of your love during this holiday season. Let us love them as Jesus Christ has loved us. Help us to abound in love more each day. Amen.

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