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Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one. – 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12
Love makes a difference. It changes us—physically, mentally, and spiritually. We all need love, and we all crave it. But the kind of love that truly transforms us isn’t about what we can get—it’s about what we give.
Paul’s words to the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 4 remind us of two kinds of love: a self-centered love that takes and an others-centered love that reflects Christ. The world tells us that love is about fulfilling our own desires, but God’s love calls us to something counter-cultural—holiness.
Paul challenges us to live a life that is set apart, one that honors God and loves others well. He calls us to purity, integrity, and self-control in how we love. Not because God is against love, but because He values it so deeply. Love isn’t cheap—it’s sacred.
And here’s the good news: We don’t have to manufacture this kind of love on our own. The more we experience Christ’s love, the more it flows out of us. When we love like Jesus—selflessly, faithfully, and with holiness—we show the world what real love looks like.
So today, let’s love more and more. Love like Jesus. Love with purpose. Love in a way that sets us apart.
Prayer: Lord, help me love more like You today. Make my love selfless, pure, and holy. Let my love be a reflection of Yours, so that others may see You in me. Amen.