1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:… The grace which is most generally spoken of in the Holy Scriptures as establishing the souls of men is faith. But there is a sense in which love also establishes the heart; hence the apostle prays that God would make the Thessalonian Christians to abound in love. I. THE INFLUENCE OF LOVE ON UNIVERSAL HOLINESS. Love is an extremely powerful principle in the heart of every one that is truly born of God: it is the great wheel which sets the whole machine in motion, and gives a vital energy to every part. 1. It rectifies all the powers of the soul. 2. It enters into every action of the life. 3. It prepares the soul for heavenly communications. II. THE ATTENTION DUE TO IT UNDER THIS PARTICULAR CONSIDERATION. Love, for its own sake, should be cultivated to the uttermost; but when we consider its vast influence both on our present and eternal welfare, we should strive for it with all our might. 1. Let us seek to abound in it. 2. Let us intreat God to work it in us. 3. Let us be stirred up to this especially from the consideration before us — the Lord Jesus is shortly coming with all His glorified saints to judge the world. Application: 1. How shall we know whether our love increases? By the difficulties it surmounts, the sacrifices it makes, the victories it gains. 2. What shall we do to get an increase in it? Nothing but love will beget love; nor will anything but a sense of God's love to us prevail to create in us any real love toward our fellow creatures. (C. Simeon, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: |
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