1 Thessalonians 3:12

“and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we also do toward you”

“The Lord”: The Lord Jesus (1 Thessalonians 3:12). “Make you to increase and abound”: Jesus has enabled us to love one another: He Himself demonstrated what such love looks like (John 15:13; 1 John 3:16). He has given us countless incentives to practice such love (John 13:34), and He has even given us. very detailed description of true biblical love (1 Corinthians 13:4). “In love one toward another”: Note that this congregation was already practicing such love (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10), yet Paul requested that such love would increase and abound. “And toward all men”: All other Christians and even unbelievers, including their enemies (Matthew 5:44). “Even as we also do toward you”: Paul did not have. level of love that other Christians could never attain. Paul believed that the converts in Thessalonica could manifest. love,. degree and level of love, that was practiced by himself, an apostle (1 Corinthians 11:1). Since brotherly love, and love for one's fellow man is so often stressed to Christians. It seems that God is saying that this quality, this virtue or mind-set is greatly needed if we are going to succeed in serving Christ, and that this virtue is needed in whole congregations if those congregations are going to overcome the various external and internal temptations that all congregations face. Love is so greatly needed because it places God's will ahead of our own opinions (John 14:15). It refuses to gossip or write people off, without really getting the facts or without talking to them (Matthew 18:15). It forbears, goes the extra mile, is hopeful, seeks the repentance of the fallen, and also views itself on. mission of salvation, deliverance, rather than. mere faultfinding mission. And true love will always move us into action, to do something about the problem, to teach the sinner, or to restore the fallen (Galatians 6:1; 1 John 3:17). Love also refuses to use the worldly tactics that are so often found in human organizations (1 John 3:10).