Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
If your love is like a faucet, how fast would it flow? I look at my life sometimes and it feels like it's flowing really well, and other times it feels like a small drip, maybe even dry sometimes. If you think about it, we need love so much. I need love for my wife, my children, my coworkers, my job. There are so many areas in our life where we need the love of God and love for other people. Paul gives us a tremendous passage to unpack today.
It comes from 1 Thessalonians chapter 3, verse 12. Paul says, "And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows."
The Context: A Healthy Church
The context here is the marks of a healthy church. These people are saved. They love God. The Word of God came in power to this church. They're looking forward to the second coming of Christ. Paul talks about all the amazing things about them. Then in this verse, in chapter 3, verse 12, Paul gives two principles for a life that overflows with Christlike love.
God Is the Source
Number one: God is the source of love. He's the source of growth. It says it right there: may the Lord make your love increase. Think about it—growth in holiness, growth in love, is ultimately a work of God. So the pressure's off. You and I are to read our Bible, pray, and meditate. But ultimately, God is the source of our growth.
Love Is to Overflow
Number two: love is to overflow. Not plateau. Not stand still. He says it right in the verse: "May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow." Paul prays for this expanding, overflowing love.
Now there's a passage that many of us know, but I think a lot of people miss a key word. It's a great leadership and parenting passage. Moses, the great leader, said this in Deuteronomy chapter 6: "You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. These words that I command you today shall be on your heart." In other words, when the Word of God is on your heart, it naturally overflows with visible fruit in the rest of our life. That's what Paul prays for—an overflowing love in everything we do and touch.
Paul says this little phrase at the end: "just as our love for you overflows." What do people say about you? What do they say about me? Can they come up to us and say, I just want you to know—your love for other people just overflows like a waterfall? What an amazing model Paul was.
What Do We Do with This?
Very simply, a couple of quick comments. Number one: ask God to show you the love that you already have. I love this prayer in Ephesians chapter 3, verses 18 and 19, where Paul prays that you would have the strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge. You'll never know the fullness of the love of Christ, but you have so much of it to be able to give to others. Pray that you understand that.
Secondly: ask God to help you see those whom you need to love. Somebody once said, eyes that look are common, but eyes that see are rare. Have you ever had a situation where a family member or friend went through a difficult time and you just kind of went along with your life—and then all of a sudden you thought, oh my goodness, I could have totally prayed for them. I should have sent them a gift. I should have called them. I feel like I didn't even really care for them. I wasn't even seeing that person.
Friend, you and I have a heart of love and a heart of compassion. When we ask God to open our eyes, we'll start seeing people and what they need from us. It's the love of Christ that makes that possible. May our love gush like a waterfall, because we really love Jesus and we want that love for Christ to constantly flow and pour over others.