1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”
Paul is concluding his pastoral prayer for the Thessalonians in these three verses. He talks about the Lord increasing our love for one another and that He may do a work in our hearts producing “blameless in holiness before God.” How are you able to increase in love for others and grow in holiness in your relationship with the Lord? What causes this to grow within your heart, soul, and mind? Isn’t it easy to love those that have the same beliefs and viewpoints as you do? Jesus taught in Luke 6:32-38 about loving our enemies. Verses 32 & 33 states: “If you love those who love you what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those that love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same.” Ouch.
How do you react when God is refining you? There are times when we are in-between trials, and life appears pretty good, and then suddenly something changes. I may not always immediately respond correctly to my fears and those things that trigger the emotion of anger, when I feel pressured, but I do know the promise of Psalm 27:1, which states, “The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?“
With our current societies issues, politically and socially, it is hard to have a love and concern for those we disagree with; however, Jesus taught in Matthew 5:46-47 (here it is again) is what I need to remind and ask myself, “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you only greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?” David Guzik said in his Commentary, “Jesus told us that our love is small and shallow if we only love those who love us also.” Paul set himself as a standard for the Thessalonians to follow in loving other people as he did, despite differences. He never compromised his convictions but admonished them to love one another as he loved them. “Instead of, “Poor me,” we must be those who say, “Pour me, Father – that I may increase and abound in love.” Jon Courson, Application Commentary.
Nothing can encourage us to strive to live blameless in holiness like the coming of Christ’s return, and that it might be today. I like how the Message states today’s verses: “May God our Father himself and our Master Jesus clear the road to you! And may the Master pour on the love so it fills your lives and splashes over on everyone around you, just as it does from us to you. May you be infused with strength and purity, filled with confidence in the presence of God our Father when our Master Jesus arrives with all his followers.”
God is sovereign over the whole universe. He is near, He hears, He is our stronghold (Ps. 59:17). Jeremiah 51:56 declares, “For the LORD is a God of recompense. He will fully repay.” Pour me, dear Father, with your abounding love so I may, in turn, pour it onto others and reflect your nature. Amen.
Listen to Matthew West What If (Lyric Video) 3/30/2021.