In what ways can we grow in faith and love like Paul? An Overflow of Grace “And the grace of our Lord overflowed to me, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Timothy 1:14 Paul’s faith and love did not originate in his own strength; they were the by-products of grace flooding his heart. When we allow that same grace to overflow in us, growth follows naturally. Faith: Receiving and Resting • Root your confidence in Christ’s finished work, not your performance (Galatians 2:20). • Feed faith daily through Scripture: “Consequently, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.” (Romans 10:17). • Pray Scripture back to God; ask Him to make His promises real in present circumstances (Psalm 119:18). • Walk it out—faith matures as we obey what we already know (James 2:17; Colossians 2:6-7). Love: Responding and Reflecting • Remember the source: “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). • Invite the Spirit’s fullness, since love tops His fruit list (Galatians 5:22-23). • Serve someone tangible today—love is an action verb (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). • Practice forgiving quickly; nothing strangles love faster than lingering resentment (Ephesians 4:32). Grace-Fueled Practices That Grow Both 1. Regular Word Saturation – Schedule unhurried reading, meditation, and memorization (Joshua 1:8). 2. Conversation with God – Turn worries into prayer and watch peace guard your heart (Philippians 4:6-7). 3. Fellowship with Believers – “Let us consider how to spur one another on toward love and good deeds” (Hebrews 10:24). 4. Spirit-Led Risk Taking – Share the gospel, give generously, volunteer where you feel weak; stretching muscles builds strength (2 Peter 1:5-8). 5. Gratitude Journaling – Thankfulness keeps the focus on grace, not grit (Colossians 2:7). Staying on Course • Monitor your inputs—faith and love shrink when fed constant cynicism. • Confess sin quickly; unconfessed sin deadens spiritual sensitivities (Psalm 32:5). • Re-center often on the gospel: “What counts is faith expressing itself through love.” (Galatians 5:6). As grace keeps overflowing, faith grows sturdy and love grows warm—just as it did for Paul, and just as it can for us. |
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