Day 4 | January 4

DAY 4 | January 4, 2024 | MORE LOVE  

VERSE: 2 Thessalonians 1:3 “We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”  ESV

EVER INCREASING LOVE 

Paul commends the Thessalonians for the outstanding growth of their faith and their love for one another. An important goal for the believer is to grow and increase in their love for God and others. Our ability to love is connected with our ability to believe, or we could say, connected with our faith. We often don’t consider that our love grows in correspondence to our faith. Faith is the strength behind love that is expressed and love is the strength behind our faith, the two are inseparable. “…what matters is a faith that expresses itself through love.” Galatians 5:6 GW It takes faith to love people who are difficult to love, especially those who have wronged us or done us harm.

To grow and increase in love we must be hearing the Word of God. Faith comes from a present tense hearing; not necessarily past tense, “having heard”. Hearing what God’s Word is presently saying to us is what inspires faith and causes it to grow abundantly. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God.” Romans 10:17 NKJV. The same applies to growing in love.

We must allow God’s Word to not only encourage and build our faith, but also encourage and inspire us to love others. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 “and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” ESV

TODAY’S PRAYER

Heavenly Father, help us to grow not only in our faith but also in our love for one another. We look to your Word, to not only build and strengthen our faith, but to grow in love. Thank you for the increase of your love in our lives as we grow in faith which enables us to even love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. Let your love transform us so that we can love those who are difficult to love and fulfill the mandate you have given us. Help us to love as you love. Philippians 1:9 “And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment.” ESV