“May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)
Three words in this verse change everything: “and for all.” Paul isn’t just praying that the Thessalonians would love each other well within the church. He’s praying that their love would overflow to everyone, believers and non-believers alike. It’s easy to create a bubble where we only love and serve the people who are like us, who believe what we believe, who make us comfortable. But Jesus calls us to a love that’s bigger than that, a love that reaches across every boundary and barrier.
When a conservative religious family in a conflict zone saw Christians consistently bringing them food and medicine without asking for anything in return, the mother said through tears, “We always thought Christians only spoke about love, but now we have seen it with our own eyes.” That’s the kind of love that changes hearts. It’s not just words or feelings. It’s action, presence, sacrifice. And when people ask why you love this way, you get to tell them about Jesus. That’s what it means to be a sent people. Wherever you go, whatever you do, you carry the love of Christ with you and you share it freely. Who around you needs to see love with their own eyes today?
Reflect:
- Is your love mostly contained within your Christian community, or does it overflow to those who don’t yet know Jesus?
- What would it look like this week to love someone in a tangible way and be ready to tell them it’s because of what Christ has done for you?
- Ask God to fill you with a love that increases and abounds, overflowing to everyone you encounter, and for courage to share the reason for that love.
