Saturday 8th March
Read 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
“Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, 11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: you should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” (NIVUK)
Sex is not a substitute for love. Whilst the pressures to conform to the sexual norms of ancient Greek and Roman life were great Paul is confident that they can withstand that pressure because of their love for one another.
Whilst the apostles can show the Thessalonians how they love them, and love God, it is a derivative love. Paul is simply grateful that they have been taught by the One who is love. There is no greater teacher. They have not learned derivatively but from the origin and fount of love. It overflows to others. Paul often prays that all believers learn from the source and that it overflows.
“I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (Ephesians 3:16-19) (NIVUK)
