Growing faith and increasing love

READ: Jeremiah 31,32; Psalms 111; 2 Thessalonians 1

SCRIPTURE:  2 Thessalonians 1: 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing.
4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.

OBSERVATION: In the book of Revelation, Jesus Christ said about the church in Ephesus that “I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first” (Rev.2:4). Lack of love and faith is not an issue that was existed only in Ephesus. Even now, many Christians openly say that their Christian faith and love is not the same as it was at the time when they first became a Christian or accepted Jesus as their Lord. Some Christians complain that their church activities are not focused on edification of believers to build their faith and love. We can list reasons, but our reasons would not immediately help a believer to grow in faith and increase in love. Here Paul describes that the faith of the Thessalonian believers is “growing more and more,” and their love for one another is increasing. Knowing what helped the Thessalonian believers to grow in their faith and increase in love will be helpful for us to cultivate our faith and love.

Paul says he is obliged to thank God for the Thessalonian believers. Thanksgiving to God is a Christian duty. Here, Paul sees the answer for his earlier prayer for faith and love (1 Thes.3:10-12). It doesn’t mean that the Thessalonian believers had no faith and love. In fact, they already had faith and love (1 Thes.3:6-7). Our faith in God is the foundation for our Christian life. Paul uses the Greek word “huperauxanó” (which means “is increasing exceedingly” or beyond measure) to describe the exponential growth of the faith of the Thessalonian believers. To denote their love, Paul uses the word “agape,” which means their love is not sentimental or emotional but sacrificial and unconditional love. The Thessalonian believers were not living in a comfort zone where they had the freedom to practice their Christian faith. They were under persecution and trials. But none of them deterred their growth of faith and increase in love. In other words, The Thessalonian believers did not allow their persecutions and sufferings to affect their faith and love. Their faith was rooted in the Gospel, the word of God (Acts 17:2-4). Their “agape” love reminds us of apostle John’s words: “let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 Jn.4:7). Let us discern ourselves: are we concerned about growing in faith or prospering in wealth? Whether our love increases or do we forsake our first love? Let us grow in faith and increase in love to be counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.

APPLICATION: Christian faith and love are inseparable. The sky is the limit for growing in my faith in Jesus Christ and for my love that increases day by day. As a Christian, I should pray for other believers to grow in faith and increase in love. Regardless of my circumstances, I should be thankful for what I have now and look forward to knowing what God can do in me to grow in faith and increase in love.

PRAYER:  Father God, thank you for the faith and love you have given me. Help me to grow in my faith despite all the odds against me, and teach me to show the love of Christ with one another so that others may know you and glorify your name. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

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