1 Thessalonians 3:12

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – May the Lord make your Love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

         In this passage we see Paul praying for believers; that our Love may increase and overflow, first for each other and then to everyone else. We, as Christians, need to walk in Love. Too many of us fight over trivial things and hold onto past experiences. We try to go to the world to show them Jesus, and in the end all we show them is that we cannot get along with each other.

         Jesus told us that the world will know that we are His followers by the Love we have for each other. How is that going to work if we aren’t showing that Love? People are looking for a place to feel accepted and Loved. That place should be in the body of Christ.

         In Paul’s prayer he first prays for us to Love each other, then continues by adding, “And for everyone else.” That is not by accident. We must make the house of God look appealing and inviting. It should be a place that welcomes anyone who comes in. I’m not talking here about coming in to a building either. You take the body of Christ with you wherever you go, as you are part of it. I’m speaking to you as an individual inasmuch as I am talking to the body as a whole.

In order to welcome and Love those whom we come in contact with, we must put aside our differences and Love each other. If we Love each other, then when we Love others it will mean something, because it will be evident that you are not putting on a show. We are all rooted and established in God’s Love and it is time that we started walking in it every day.

So, as Paul prayed this prayer I also pray it for you: “May the Lord make your Love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.” Love like Jesus Loves; not based on action, but on people!!