Young Adults' Group

Abounding In Love

by Pastor Mark
November 09, 2017

The challenge to abound in love

The challenge to abound in love is something that we must pray about. We learnt from the Apostle Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church that we should abound more and more in love in all knowledge and discernment (Phil 1:9). At our last combined fellowship meeting, Pastor Charles highlighted that this challenge to abound in love was something that Paul wished for the Thessalonian church too, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,” (1 Thess 3:12) How should we understand this challenge?

1. A strong wish to abound in love

Paul wished for the brethren’s love to increase and abound. The Greek word “pleonazo” means “to make more, to increase”. Another Greek word is “perisseuo” which means to “super abound, to be overflowing”. Both words are written in the optative mood which adds a flavour of a strong, emotional wish. Our love should first increase and then super abound. This means that our love should always increase from one level to another. Let us have a strong wish for this abounding kind of love.

2. The source of love is the Lord

We recognise that it is the Lord who enables our love to increase. The source of our love is found in Him. This kind of increasing love can only come from the Lord. The Lord demonstrated such love throughout His life. Let us seek to love with the Lord’s kind of love.

3. The people whom we should love

To whom should we show this increasing love? We should show such love to one another in our church. This love should also be manifested to all…even for those who are non-believers. Let us be challenged to love our brethren and everyone else.

4. Following good examples

Paul and Timothy were great examples of what it means to increase and to abound in love. They demonstrated much love for the Thessalonian brethren…for instance, Paul spoke of how they related to the brethren as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. (1 Thess 2:7) Let us be encouraged by the example of Paul and Timothy.

The purpose of abounding in love

“so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (1 Thess 3:14)

Our purpose to abound in love is that God would established in us a heart that is blameless in holiness. There should come a personal sense of holiness before the Lord as we develop an abounding kind of love. Let us seek to abound in love with this purpose in mind.

Practical application

We thank God for the many opportunities to practically apply this challenge to abound in love in the church. Through having the combined fellowship meeting, it gave us an opportunity to love our fellow brethren who are from the different fellowship groups. Last Saturday, we had our YAG outing to the Pinnacle and that gave us another opportunity to practise abounding in love. Let us continue to practically cultivate our love among ourselves as a YAG and as a church. Let us be challenged to truly increase and to abound in love to one another and to all.

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