1 Thessalonians 3:11-12 11Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you; 12and may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also for you;
After reflecting with the Thessalonians about suffering and the need to be faithful to the gospel, Paul now offers a prayer with three requests. The verbs of this prayer are in the rare optative mood, which is how a wish or prayer is expressed. Paul offers this prayer to two divine persons of the Trinity. This echoes what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 8:5-6. God the Father is sovereign and the only true God. Believers are adopted into God’s family and he becomes our heavenly Father. The Lord Jesus Christ is the one through whom God expresses love, grace, forgiveness, and redemption. Jesus is also sovereign as Lord, the one who calls, equips, and directs us to carry out God’s will. Paul is not attempting to develop any doctrine of the Trinity here but simply expressing his experience of the one God.
The prayer has three requests to the Father and Son. First, Paul asks that the way to visit the Thessalonians will be opened up. This letter and the recent visit of Timothy were helpful but were no substitute for personal contact. Paul wanted whatever he did to be directed and in the will of God. God was the one who could orchestrate Paul’s return trip.
Second, Paul asks God to grow the Thessalonians’ love. God can answer this prayer because God is the author and source of love (1 John 4:19). God as the source of love gives the ability and capacity to love in increasing ways and depth. God does not give us just a little love to get by but love that increases and overflows. God gives us love so that we can love others. We cannot love well by our own emotional strength or will power. Our love will be conditional, based on emotions, attitude, situation, or if someone loves us back. Love is best defined by God (John 3:16; 1 John 4:10). Love must be practical and shown in visible ways. It is not enough to say, “I love you.” We must show it. Love is the highest ideal for Christians and our goal and purpose for living (Romans 13:8). Paul gives two targets for love: for one another and for all people, this includes enemies. When we experience God’s love and open ourselves to receive this love, we will see ourselves and others differently. This needed to be the response of the Thessalonians to those who were causing them problems. Love must spring from the heart. We are closest to God when we love one another. We are closest together when we open ourselves to God’s love.
For older posts, click here.