Today’s Encouragement is, “Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing.” 2 Thessalonians 1:3 NLT
Faith is Flourishing –
Two reasons are given to thank God for this group of believers, the church of Thessalonica. Their faith was flourishing. A growing faith, like a healthy plant, is obvious. We can see a plant’s strength and growth clearly by observing it over time. Its branches are broad and strong, the leaves are green and flexible, and the plant is well-watered, fed, and flourishing.
So too our faith. Our faith can flourish when it is well-nourished, fed, and watered from God’s Word of Truth, with hope and trust. When our lives are attached to the vine of Jesus, we thrive! (John 15:5)
And in the same way, our love for one another is growing. Same nourishment, same Source, and the result, the luxuriant fruit of our lives, is God’s Love. Our Love for God, gratitude for all He has given and done for us, acceptance of His Perfect Love for us, and the resulting overflow of His Love into those around us. We love others because He loved us first (1 John 4:19).
This is the Abundant Life (John 10:10) which Jesus came to bring us. We don’t have to struggle with doubts and fears constantly; as we consistently choose faith, our Love grows.
Help us, Father, for we are nothing without You, to remain attached to Jesus for His life-giving nourishment, so that our Faith will flourish and our Love will grow.
Build My Life
Pat Barrett
https://youtu.be/QZW4_8_zCBE?is=8BSMBqullH70LHjm