Weekly Devotions:
 

Love One Another (Part 2)
March 19, 2006
(click here to download as a Microsoft Word document)
 

·        Read 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13. The church in Thessalonica was known for its love (see 1:3 and 3:6; also 2 Thessalonians 1:3). In verses 11-13 of chapter 3 the Apostle Paul prays for the church in Thessalonica. Notice that in verse 12 he prays for the Lord to cause their already evident love to “increase and abound.” The word that Paul uses in the original language for “love” is a word that refers to sacrificial love that is not based upon feelings or emotions or the worth of the one being loved, but is based upon God’s love for us. Is it possible for us to love others in this way apart from the work of God in our lives? Do you, like Paul, pray that God would cause your love for others to increase and abound? Take time to pray for a greater love for others, specifically for those you find hard to love.  

·        Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10. Though the church in Thessalonica was a loving church, Paul warned them against resting upon their current level of loving one another. Paul urges the Thessalonians to increase more and more in their love for one another. Do you feel that you are doing enough to love others? What steps could you take and what could you do to cause your love to increase “more and more”?  

·        Read 1 Peter 1:22-25. In this section that extends through 2:10, Peter is giving practical application for living as new people in Christ. Notice in verse 22 that Christians are to love one another “fervently” with a “pure heart.” The word translated “fervent” means “pertaining to an unceasing activity, normally involving a high degree of intensity and/or perseverance.” Would your love for others be considered fervent? Is your love for others intense and does it persevere even when love is not shown in return?  

·        Notice also in 1 Peter 1:22-23 that Peter links the Christian’s ability to love with the fact that they have been “born again.” How does your relationship with Jesus affect the way that you love others? Does the love that He has shown you cause you to love others differently than you did before trusting Jesus?  

·        Read 1 Peter 4:7-11. In this passage Peter writes about serving others within the church. Focus on verse 8. After exhorting Christians to above all display fervent love for one another, he states that this kind of love for one another will “cover a multitude of sins.” Peter does not mean that our love for one another causes sins to be atoned for. Rather, he is stressing that a pervading atmosphere of love in the context of relationships within the church causes many sins to be overlooked. Peter is not dismissing sin within the congregation and saying that it is not to be dealt with, but is instead showing that love for one another causes the flaws, mistakes, and annoyances of others to be overlooked and treated with an attitude of grace and forgiveness. This is one of the practical implications of true godly love for others. Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and think about how the demonstration of this kind of love would “cover a multitude of sins.” Do you hold grudges, get annoyed by others, or allow petty disagreements or personality differences to come between you and others within the church? If so, how should your love for them “cover a multitude of sins”?

Devotions Archive:

Love One Another (Part1)
March 12, 2006
 

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