Scripture Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another,
1 Thessalonians 4:9
Churches all around the world have their own story about conflicts and division due to personality, misunderstanding, and personal interests that hinders the growth and unity of the church. People who should be united with love are conflicted due to lack of love. Loving our brethren is a basic expectation of God to His people.
It is seen in verse 9 that the people of Thessalonica have been well-taught by God through the Holy Spirit to express brotherly love to one another. Apostle Paul knew himself that God's love is truly in their hearts which is why they are able to express the love that comes from God in a right manner. We, Christians who experienced the love of God through His gospel, know what unconditional love is: a love that is pure and sacrificing to all which we learned when our Father sacrificed His dear Son for our sins.
In verse 10, Apostle Paul sees that the Church of Thessalonica exercised their love to their co-believers in the province of Macedonia which we know was acknowledged by Paul as selfless givers to his ministry and because of this contagious brotherly love. Apostle Paul prays for it to grow more and more, to outdo one another more and more with love.
Apostle Paul encouraged the people of Thessalonica to live as peaceful as possible, to avoid strife with co-believers, while minding their own business and to avoid meddling with other's life, but focusing on what was instructed for them to do. This is a problem of most Christians; meddling with other people's lives, talking about it behind their back which will cause a strife naturally. Being concerned with your brother is different from being curious of their lives. We should care for each other, but make sure that it is out of concern, not out of curiosity.
Reflect
1. Have we evaluated ourselves of the driving force of every action that we do towards our brothers? Is it because of love, or is there another reason behind it?
2. Are we willing to die for the sake of the lives of our brethren? That is the love that God gave towards us which should be the love that we are ready to give to our co-believers.
Remember
The reality of Christians having strife with other Christians is evident in all local churches around the world, which is why we would need to realign our thoughts and values with Christ and pray to have a genuine love towards other believers, so we can have a harmonious relationship with one another.
Read
John 13:34-35; Romans 12:9-21; 1 John 4:19-5:4
Pray
Loving Father, I pray to You, the Author of Love from where I learned true love from. I beg for Your mercy to be upon me and give me a heart that will truly love my brethren. Give me a heart that will love them unconditionally, not thinking what I will have in return. A love that is willing to give up my life, for them to keep theirs, who will always put others first before myself, which You did and Lord Jesus Christ did on the cross. In Jesus' Name, I pray. Amen.
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