Taught by God to love…

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
But concerning brotherly love, you have no need that one write to you. For you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, for indeed you do it toward all the brothers who are in all Macedonia. But we exhort you, brothers, that you abound more and more; (WEB)

I love the tender picture that the Apostle Paul paints in today’s Scripture reading. He is so impressed with the love that the Thessalonians showed to their brothers in Macedonia that he tells them that he really has nothing to teach them about brotherly love… because God Himself has taught them how to love one another.

What an amazing picture of a Father’s heart for His kids! He actually teaches us how to love our brothers and sisters. I can remember when our children were young and didn’t play nicely with each other, we had to have some teaching moments with them. Lovingly but firmly, we had to teach our wee ones how to be kind and considerate to their siblings.

I don’t think it is a stretch of the imagination to see how God treats us the same way. He doesn’t like it when we fight with each other and He is especially impressed when we go out of our way to actually love each other. As an earthly father, I so enjoy seeing all my children getting along. HOW MUCH MORE do you think our heavenly Dad enjoys seeing all of us caring for each other?

My prayer today is that we would all be taught by God how to love one another. May a revival of love sweep across our own natural families, then overflow to our church family and then bubble up every where we go! May the world know what defines us as sons and daughters to our Father is the love that we have for each other. As Paul ends today’s Scripture verse… May you abound more and more!

John 13:34-35
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you; that you also love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (WEB)