S – And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

1 Thessalonians 3:12 ESV

O – Commentary:

The Thessalonians were already noted for their love, but Paul prayed that it might abound—increase (pleonasai) and overflow (perisseusai)—even more. “Genuine Christian love … is the one thing in the Christian life which cannot be carried to excess” (Hiebert, The Thessalonian Epistles, p. 155). The image of love overflowing its container suggests that Christian love is something that wells up from within a person naturally. Paul was concerned that it overflow to everyone, not just to Christians in the church. His love was their model.

 Thomas L. Constable, “1 Thessalonians,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 699–700.

A – What would it look like if our love overflowed to excess?  Not in a naive, ignorant love that was silly in its application.  Instead, a genuine, authentic love that loved others in the value that God has for them and revered God with a grateful heart.  Our lives would be transformed from seeking our will to seeking Him.   Others would not just be part of the journey but the recipients of a tangible expression of our love for God.  This is a big win!

R – Heavenly Father, we worship and surrender to you.  Empower us today to be filled with your Spirit to love you and others authentically.  As we do this, diminish our selfishness and help us to uphold the value that others have in our lives.