"Now may our God and Father Himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all His holy ones." (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 NIV)This is Paul's prayer for the believers in Thessalonica. He asked God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ to clear the way (removing obstacles/hindrances) for him to be able to visit them. He asked the Lord to make their love (agape) increase/grow and abound/overflow for one another...for everyone (including their enemies). Agape is a supernatural love (unconditional, selfless, and sacrificial). It's treating others the way Jesus would treat them. It's a fruit of the Spirit. Only God through His Spirit can put that kind of love in our hearts. Paul also asked God to strengthen their hearts (will, thoughts, motives, attitudes, & feelings, the wellspring of our spiritual life) so that they will be blameless (pure, faultless, irreproachable) and holy (separated from the world...set apart for God's use and purpose) in the presence of God when Jesus returns with all the saints. In Christ (because of our union with Christ and His righteousness imputed upon us), we are holy and blameless in God's sight. May we live accordingly!
Every chapter in 1 Thessalonians ends with a reference to Christ's second coming. This precious truth should motivate us Christians to love like Jesus, to pursue holiness, and to be intentional about how we daily live.
"An overflow of love (1Th 3:12) is the only route to holy conduct in which no fault can be found (1Th 3:13). For unless love prevails, selfish motives inhibit ethical development by turning us toward ourselves and away from God and blameless living." (EBC)
Prayer: Thank You, Heavenly Father, for loving me with an everlasting love! Thank You for putting agape love in my heart! Please continue to make it grow and overflow. Please purify and strengthen my heart to be holy and blameless...to be ready for Christ's return. In Jesus's Name, I pray. Amen.
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