It is the one thing that the world sees or doesn’t see within the church: love. It is the one thing that either unites or divides the church: love. It is the one thing that is the evidence of God’s presence: love.
“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13)
- He clears the way for relationships to flourish, v11. What is in the way? What is blocking your route? The problems of you connecting with someone can be many. That may be circumstantial as here for Paul or it could be the hardness of heart. Whatever the reason God can remove it. God can make a way for love no matter what is obstructing it.
- He increases love in our hearts for each other, v12. I find loving people difficult at times don’t you? In fact I can think of some people who I love less today than yesterday. But the love I have is only what I have been given. In fact everything that God wants me to share is what He has first given me. So today our prayer is: give me more of your love to love people; help me to love how you love; let love pour out of my life.
- He strengthens so that our faults and sins are dealt with in his presence, v13. Love is the only path that takes you to holiness. For holiness is the expressed overflow of love. If we don’t love people then we cannot love God. If we love God then it is seen. Loving God causes us to turn away from ourselves and it then leads to being able to love people. When our lives are turned away from us then God sees us as blameless and holy.
Missions Paul 