Daily Devotional

-February 9, 2021-

Good morning, happy Tuesday,

-A Growing Faith And An Abounding Love-

“We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.”

(2 Thessalonians 1:3).

We all appreciate complements, to be appreciated, and to do well in whatever we do. The Apostle Paul loved the saints in Thessalonica and was thankful for them and their spiritual lives. He wrote two epistles to them. According to Acts 17, he spent three weeks with them. Acts 17:2-4 says, “Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, as for three Sabbaths reasoning with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that Christ had to suffer and to rise again from the dead, and saying, ‘This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.’ And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas.”

Along with their great evangelistic success came great persecution from the Jews, who stirred up a mob of evil men, who dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the rulers of the city. They took security from them, which is like our bail, and let them go. The brethren sent Paul and Silas away at night to Berea.

A church was formed there and it became very successful and blessed. Paul wrote of their growing faith and abounding love. One of the blessings of persecution then and still today, is that more people get saved and grow spiritually. This is much to the chagrin of the devil and those who oppose the gospel.

• A growing faith – Paul thanks the Lord for their growing faith. It takes faith in Christ and His finished work on the cross to save us. Then it takes faith to grow in our relationship with Christ. Paul appreciated both aspects of their faith, especially the latter that showed their complete dependence on the Lord. Hebrews 11:6 says, “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.”

The Christian life is a walk of faith. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” We believe God, trust in Him to guide us, and wait upon Him for His help and answers to our prayers. The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “ A little faith will bring your soul to heaven; a great faith will bring heaven to your soul.” Thus, the Thessalonians’ had that great faith that grew exceedingly! How is your faith? Is is a growing faith? Is it growing exceedingly?

• An abounding love – Not only did they have a growing faith in the Lord, but they had an abounding love toward each other. There is a special bond between believers in the Lord Jesus Christ. It started with the twelve disciples and spread to all the saints. Praise God it is still true today. Paul wrote in Philippians 1:9, “And this I pray, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment.” We can never love enough, we must abound more and more. The love of the Thessalonians for each other hit a crescendo! It abounded, and then sounded to those around them. Is your love abounding? Is is sounding forth in a rich harmony?

If Paul was writing to our church today, what would he say? Would he be proud of us? Would he concur that our faith is growing exceedingly and our love is abounding toward each other? Let say, amen.

Have a blessed day in faith and love. Stay safe and healthy.

Dean