Love

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: (I Thessalonians 3:6)

It has been said, “Love makes the world go round”. And it’s true. I know this statement was not talking about God, but about the world’s concept of love. However, it is God’s love that allows this old world to just keep on spinning. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” to redeem us from our sins. If it were not for God’s love, He would have long ago crushed us into oblivion.

But what about our love for God and our follow man.

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 22:37-40)

Let’s notice some things about love in I & II Thessalonians.

I. LOVE PRODUCES DEEDS.

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; (I Thessalonians 1:3)

  1. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.”
  2. Love will cause you to do things that you would not otherwise do.

II. WE ARE TO HAVE BROTHERLY LOVE.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.
(I Thessalonians 4:9)

A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  (John 13:34)

  1. We are to increase in love as we grow in the Lord.

    And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (I Thessalonians 3:12)

  2. They were obedient to this instruction.

    We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; (II Thessalonians 1:3)

  3. Are you increasing in your love for one another?

III. WE ARE TO LOVE OTHERS AS WELL.

And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: (I Thessalonians 3:12)

And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. (Matthew 22:39)

  1. The one thing God wants from us more than anything else is love.
  2. Love for Him and love for our fellow man.

IV. LOVE IS TO BE A COVERING FOR OUR HEART

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
(I Thessalonians 5:8)

V. WE ARE EVEN TO LOVE THE PASTOR

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves. (I Thessalonians 5:12-13)

  1. Not because of who he is, but because of who he represents.
  2. He is to be busy ministering to your spiritual needs.

    Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation. Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you. (Hebrews 13:7, 17)

 

VI. NOT EVERYONE LOVES THE TRUTH

And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. (II Thessalonians 2:10)

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. (II Timothy 4:3-4)

VIII. ABOVE ALL ELSE WE SHOULD LOVE GOD

And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ. (II Thessalonians 3:5)

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
(Matthew 22:37)

  1. You cannot love God correctly until you have placed your faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for you on the cross of Calvary.
  2. If we love God, we will obey Him.

    If ye love me, keep my commandments.(John 14:15)

  3. If we love God as we ought, we will be ready and looking for the Lord to come for His own.

    Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)


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