What are you seeking to increase? What would you like to be better at? How would you like to improve your attitude and behavior? Have you thought about increasing your love for others? Have you thought about abounding with love for family, friends, and everyone you meet?
Each of us can improve our attitudes and behaviors. Even those who think they have reached the peak of perfection. Perhaps especially them. We may admit we are not perfect, yet we do not continue pursuing it. Think about how much better the world would be if we did.
Perhaps the most important area we can improve is love. Not simply saying we love but putting our love into action. The word for love in today’s passage also include benevolence. Being willing to help one another and those in need is an expression of love. It is an expression of not only our love but the love of Christ that comes through us.
But increasing our love to the point of abounding in it is a big step…or several big steps. Abounding in love would mean that it pours out of us at all times. It is a sacrificial love that always puts others ahead of ourselves. It is being the hands and feet of Jesus. It is being the mouthpiece of Jesus. It is lifting up others when they are down. It is providing for the needs of others, whether emotional, spiritual, or physical.
Abounding in love is not for the faint of heart. It is tough to love some people. It is tough to sacrifice for others all the time. Yet, abounding in love is being like Jesus. He demonstrated to us what it means to sacrifice for others. He left a place that is perfect in all aspects to come to a place full of imperfection to save sinners all over the world—past, present, and future. Choose to be like Jesus. Choose to abound in love.
I pray we all seek to improve our love for one another. I pray we seek to abound in love for others. I pray each one of us will seek to be like Jesus and demonstrate His love to others. Love one another. Love everyone you meet. Be like Jesus. Demonstrate His love.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.
Marty Pressey 