What practical steps help us love "one another and for everyone else"? Rooted in Paul’s Prayer for Overflowing Love “And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with love for one another and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:12 • Love is not self-generated; the Lord “causes” it. • It is meant to “increase and overflow,” touching believers and outsiders alike. • Paul models the very love he prays for: “just as ours does for you.” Start With God’s Own Love • 1 John 4:10 – “In this is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” • Romans 5:5 – “…the love of God has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit…” Practical takeaway: Spend unhurried time each day recalling the gospel. The better we remember His love, the freer we are to give it away. Practical Ways to Love One Another (Inside the Family of Faith) • Pray for fellow believers by name (Philippians 1:9). • Show up consistently: worship, small groups, shared meals (Acts 2:46). • Speak words that build, never tear (Ephesians 4:29). • Serve where a need appears, not merely where it fits a preference (Galatians 5:13). • Forgive quickly and thoroughly (Colossians 3:13). • Share resources: time, skills, finances (1 John 3:17–18). Practical Ways to Love Everyone Else (Outside the Circle) • Initiate friendly conversation with neighbors, coworkers, strangers (Luke 10:33–34). • Practice tangible generosity: tipping well, donating, volunteering (Proverbs 19:17). • Show impartial kindness; refuse favoritism (James 2:1–4). • Bless and pray for those who oppose you (Matthew 5:44). • Uphold truth and justice; love never ignores wrongdoing (Micah 6:8; Ephesians 5:11). • Carry gospel hope into everyday dialogue (2 Corinthians 5:20). Habits That Keep Love Growing • Daily Scripture intake (Psalm 119:32). • Ongoing reliance on the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). • Regular self-examination: rooting out bitterness, envy, pride (Hebrews 12:15). • Accountability with mature believers (Hebrews 10:24–25). • Celebrating answered prayer and testimonies of changed lives (Psalm 66:16). Why It Matters: Preparing for the Lord’s Return Paul moves directly from praying for overflowing love (3:12) to preparing hearts “blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus” (3:13). Love readies us for that day. Putting It All Together 1. Receive God’s love daily. 2. Pray for an overflow. 3. Act on promptings—large or small. 4. Repeat, trusting the Lord to keep the stream ever widening. |
    |