Tuesday 9 July, 2013

9 We don’t need to write to you about love among believers. God himself has taught you to love each other. 10 In fact, you do love all the brothers and sisters all around Macedonia. But we are asking you to love each other more and more. 11 Do everything you can to live a quiet life. Mind your own business. Work with your hands, just as we told you to. 12 Then unbelievers will have respect for your everyday life. And you won’t have to depend on anyone.

I was challenged by Paul’s message. Do I do my best to “love each other as Jesus loved me”? Can I do more and more? Each year, after the dumpling- fundraising has finished, I am tired and exhausted. Sometimes, I ask myself “whether we should do it again next year?”

“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” (John15:12).

“Love each other” is not an idea or knowledge or request, but the command of Jesus Christ. In this passage, Paul is not tried of reminding the Thessalonian church to love each other but to challenge/urge them to do so more and more.

Paul also asked the church people to lead a quiet life, to mind their own business and to work with their hands. As young Christians growing spiritually, living life in this way earns the respect of non Christians and would make the sharing of their faith in Jesus with others more effective.

Thank you Jesus, your word/love always inspires me: “Strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees”, because “My grace is sufficient for you” (2 Corinthians 12:9). Amen

Written by Allen Leu