"May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you"
I Thess 3:12
There's a 'recovering Pharisee' spirit in all of us that wants to read this verse as another item on the 'to-do' list of a Christian life that depends on me proving my love for God by doing what good Christians do. Come on Helen, pick it up - stop being so selfish and start being more loving. My reading of this verse would begin at "increase and abound in love for one another" etc. I was sure to fail... how much increase is enough? How much love is abounding?
The Gospel lens, which I have to intentionally put on, instead unleashes joy and relief at the thought that the Lord Himself is the source of our love for one another, and for all. He knows we don't love selflessly enough, or wisely enough, or dependably enough, and doesn't reproach us any more for our failure. He looks on us with only kindness and acceptance, because Jesus has loved perfectly selflessly, wisely and dependably, and attributes that record to us.
So from a position of acceptance, we are free to love, but not to win or keep God's approval. We love, because of, and with the love with which He first loved us.
God is Love, and Exodus 34:6 is the revelation to Moses of His character and nature:
"The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands..".
He abounds in love, and has given us His own nature, producing this love in us in 'increasing abundance'.
The widow in Elijah's day who willingly poured the last of her oil, is a great picture of all that God asks of us. Trust His character, be willing to give the little that we have in love, and He will overflow through us in an unending supply.
