Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  2024  Day 129

May 8;       I Thessalonians 3:12;        185/260;        ‘Increase and Abound’

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

While in Athens, Paul had concerns for the church in Thessalonica, that they were growing spiritually.  He sent Timothy to the church and Timothy reported that indeed the church was doing well and the congregation was growing in their faith.  Paul, as always, prayed for the churches he established.  He desired to return to Thessalonica to visit the church and continue to teach them.  In the meantime, based on the good report from Timothy, Paul’s prayer was for the congregation to increase.  He mentions nothing specific they are to increase in, so he was praying for them to continue their spiritual growth in every aspect of their walk with Jesus.  He also prays that the members of the church would abound in love toward each other.  Paul wanted them to love each other with the love of God that was deposited in their spirit when they became born again.  As Christians, we are in this world, but we are not of this world.  We need the fellowship of other Christians.  We need that fellowship now and they surely needed it then.  When Peter and John had healed the crippled man, at the gate entering the Temple, using the Name of Jesus, they were arrested and severely threatened by the religious leaders, not to use Jesus’ Name.  When they were released they went to ‘their own company.’  That was the church.  They went to Christians who believed what they did, loved each other and prayed for each other.  That is what Paul was praying for.  God’s love flowing in the church, making it a spiritual haven for them all.