1 Thessalonians 4 - 03.07.24
SCRIPTURE: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 ERV
“We don’t need to write to you
about having LOVE for your brothers and sisters in Christ.
God has already taught you to love each other.
In fact, you love all the believers in Macedonia.
We encourage you now, brothers and sisters, to show your love more and more.”
OBSERVATION
The Love of the Brethren
Philadelphia—phílos = beloved + adelphós = brother= Brotherly Love
Brotherly love normally referred to the love members of a family held for each other,
however, in the NT philadelphia is used to describe the love that believers have for one another.
Although we may be members of different natural families,
we are ALL united in Christ as ONE Family originating from our Heavenly FATHER AND we ALL share in the eternal Promised Inheritance of Heaven as His Spiritual Children.
APPLICATION
Love One Another—as Christ Loves us…
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another;
even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
By THIS all will KNOW that you are MY disciples, IF you have LOVE for one another.””
(John 13:34-35 NKJV)
Jesus tells us that if we Love HIM, we will Love one another—
Loving each other in the Same way that Jesus Loves us.
This is important to God—because—
it is the MOST significant way others will SEE our Faith in Action!
Jesus said:
…this is HOW…EVERYONE will SEE and KNOW that you are MY disciples.
Love is an Action Word…
God Gave
““For this is how God loved the world: HE gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NLT)
Jesus Sacrificed His Life for our sins:
“No one can take my life from me. I sacrifice it voluntarily. For I have the authority to lay it down when I want to and also to take it up again. For this is what my Father has commanded.”” (John 10:18 NLT)
Today I am asking the question how my Love for Christ can be expressed to others sacrificially. What is God asking me to give? Would someone from the “Outside” identify me as Jesus disciple by how I am Loving “the Brethren”?
May we be the sweet aroma of Christ to those around us and especially a sweet sacrifice onto to Christ.
PRAYER
Lord Jesus,
Thank You for placing me in a family. I so dearly love this extended family. I am constantly challenged and growing and learning by every single person—and You are shaping me. I am humbled and still there is so much to learn.
Help me to let go more and more of preconceived notions and to trust YOU with ALL my Heart. Help me to be a vessel that Your Love flows through. Even when I know I’m not at my best, help me not to shrink back. It’s not about us, it’s about YOU. Your Power is made PERFECT in our weakness. Here I am Lord, send me.
Tina L Kudelka