"And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows."
Is there a way to make your love overflow? We are constantly instructed in Scripture to love others, but how can we actually do this? Is it by sure willpower? Do we need to engage in difficult service projects in order to boost our care for others? These are important questions that many Christians often wonder about.
Fortunately, in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul provides us some insight into how we can grow in our love of others. He tells the Thessalonians that he is asking God to make their love grow and even overflow. The implication here is that God is the source of the power we need to increase our love. In other words, the first step in growing in love is to recognize that we don't love others as we should, and that we need God's help to be more loving people.
For today's exercise, take a moment to consider one person in your life, particularly one who is difficult to love. Then pray to God about this person and ask the Lord to help you love this person more. Don't ask for God's power to love this person just a little bit more, ask that your love for them will overflow.
(New Living Translation; photo credit: Jeremy Bishop via Unsplash)
I love this encouragement to receive God's love, and that He empowers us to love others!