Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
“About brotherly love: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.” 1 Thessalonians 4:9 (HCSB)
Many problems in a church can be overcome by love. Love often causes dissensions to be settled. Love prompts a church to serve the poor. Love moves us to do missions and evangelism. Love even leads us to give more financially, work with children, paint the nursery walls, or build a new building for the youth. Love is the greatest motivator to church service of all types. But what if we just don’t have that much love?
First Thessalonians 4:9 gives hope to those of us who come up a little short in the love department. It reveals that God can teach us to love. Love is not so much an emotion to be experienced, but an action to be taken. The greatest act of love in history was Christ on the cross. The good news for us is that the One who called Jesus to the cross can teach us to love people in our own congregation. Love really does change everything and is a real key to church revitalization.
Ask God today to increase your love for a person, or group of people in your church, for which you do not feel much love.
PRAYER
Consider praying a prayer like this: Dear God, I do not feel much love for _____________ (fill in the blank). I’m asking, and counting on, You to teach me to love ______________ the way You love him or her. Thank You for hearing my prayer prayed in Jesus’ name. Amen.
