Discipleship Devotional Study Guide – Love – 1 Thessalonians 3-12 – Increase And Overflow – Growing As Disciples
May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 1 Thessalonians 3:12 (NIV)
My Love In You
Alright, I have a question. What’s that? Is it your love or my love that is supposed to increase and overflow my life? What do you think? I’m not sure. I will tell you this, there is not much love in me. What do you mean by that? Love is not my strong suit. Love doesn’t naturally flow out of your life, is that what you are trying to say? Yes, that’s it exactly.
What comes naturally to you? Naturally I’m pretty self-centered. The world revolves around me. I think of what I want and like most of the time. I pursue my own comfort, enjoyment and pleasure. I’m not against others joining me in my comfortable and happy life just as long as they don’t create problems or inconveniences that might make me unhappy or uncomfortable. You don’t want anyone or anything messing up your life, is that right? Yes, you’ve got that right.
Well then, you’re right, you don’t have a deep reservoir of love that might increase and overflow your life. Yes, that’s right. Your love for others looks more like a desert than an overflowing spring. You have the right picture, that’s for sure.
So, your question doesn’t seem like it should be too difficult for you to answer. I guess not. I’m sure that it is your love that you want to increase and overflow in my life. There is no way that my love will ever increase enough to overflow my life and spill out into the lives of other people. No, it will not.
So, what are you going to do now that you know that you are incapable of loving others with your own love? I’m going to ask you to increase and overflow my life with your love. When are you going to do that? Right now. Fill my life to overflowing with your love. Make your love increase and overflow my life so I can love others with your love.
I have heard and I will answer your prayer. You will have many opportunities in the days ahead of you to let my love increase and overflow your life. What will those opportunities look like? Your opportunities to love other people will look like difficult people and trying circumstances. What? Yes, in those moments of opportunity you will have decisions to make. What decisions? You will decide if you will allow my love for others to be your love for others. But, decide now in advance, will you allow my love for others to be your love for others? Yes Lord, I will. Then you will no longer be doing what comes naturally. You will be doing what comes supernaturally, by my Spirit, with my love that is in you.
Lord, it is the desire of my heart to love others with your love. Fill me with your love. Let your love overflow my life and spill out into the lives of others. Use me for your glory. Help me to love others supernaturally, by your Spirit and your love dwelling in me. Amen
For today’s complete 4 page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide click here:
Love – 1 Thessalonians 3-12 – Increase And Overflow – 4 Page Discipleship Devotional Study Guide
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