In this episode, we continue our series growing in every season.
Core Scripture:
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 KJV)
Recap:
Last episode, we looked at the authority of faith, which is spiritual authority linked to how you speak about things. We also looked at how faith shapes how we pray, study, act, and the ideas that stimulate our actions.
This week we look at the second thing you need to grow in any season, and that is to increase in love.
According to Paul, to grow in any season, your love for other people must increase. You cannot grow without loving people. Paul says your love must increase as your faith increases, according to Second Thessalonians 1:3.
The first reason love is important for growth is that it makes you patient and helps you see things through.
Even when things seem stubborn—when your efforts don’t appear to make a difference and everything seems to work against you—love keeps you from giving up.
Here’s an example. Jesus told a story about a shepherd. So imagine you have ninety-nine sheep and one runs away. If the one runs away, you might say, “Let it go,” because you have ninety-nine. Because ninety-nine is greater than one. So when you compare them, you’re saying that if you lose one, it’s not so bad because you can replace the one soon after. You have both male and female sheep, and they will reproduce among themselves. So if one is gone, it’s not a big loss. But the important bit that Jesus said is that “there is no greater love than this: that a man lays down his life for his friends.” Jesus used this illustration to show you how the love of God is so different, and what he expects you to do in similar situations. Instead of moving on, God expects us to leave the ninety-nine and search for the one. To search for the lost sheep—those who have strayed and those who have lost their way as they navigate life. The grace to grow in this season is to love them. Go find where they are.
He searches for the one because he loves you. He loves you so much that he will go wherever you are to find you. He loves you so much that he wants you to know he has not abandoned you. He has not left you behind. You have not been forgotten. You are not an afterthought. You are not someone he has thrown aside. God says he will never give up on you. This attitude helps you grow in any season.
Paul also encourages us that love never gives up. Love keeps on being patient. Love keeps on believing. He said that love never gives up hope, and love never comes to an end. If you turn your back on people, your love comes to an end at that decision. You don’t want your love to come to an end.
The second reason: When your love increases, your actions change. These things will stir you to act. When you see problems, get excited because you have an opportunity to serve. For example, you might meet people in your community who need counselling. You can offer counselling or start a new counselling program in partnership with a local church or counsellor. But what if the people you meet don’t know God? You can tailor a programme just for them. You can start a program to teach them about Jesus and help them understand why they need him. This is just one of many ways you can turn the problems you see into opportunities to serve.
The third reason: Your commitment changes
When your love grows, your commitment grows as well. Commitment matters if you want to move forward. And when I say commitment, I mean your commitment to Jesus Christ—your relationship with him and the people around you. God paid for your life with his blood, so you must commit to receive the fullness of what he offers—not just a piece. You can’t take the part you like and then try to make it work. You can’t pick and choose. It’s like when children see rice and peas and try to separate the peas from the rice—it doesn’t work. You have to take everything in its fullness. You have to make a decision. You can’t stay on the fence. You must commit 100%.
When Jesus was in the garden of Gethsemane, he never said, “I’m only putting the nail in my left hand and then take me down when I start to feel pain.” He went all in. They pierced his side, and he died—fully and completely. Then he rose again to show that he had won victory over death. He took the keys to death and hell. His example shows the level of commitment you need to move forward. You cannot offer a half-hearted commitment. You must fully commit so your love for the community increases.
But you’re wondering, how can your love increase for the community?
Let’s just go to Matthew 25. I love this scripture because Jesus said, “When I was hungry, you gave me something to eat. When I was thirsty, you gave me something to drink. When I was homeless, you gave me somewhere to stay.” He said that “when I was sick, you took care of me.” He said that “when I was naked, you gave me something to wear.” And he also said that “when I was in prison, you visited me.” These show the needs in the community. This is how you can demonstrate your love for the community.
In your community, wounded people need care. Some people have suffered abuse to the point that they think living is not enough. They need to hear that Jesus died so that they can live. They need to understand what will happen if they give up on Jesus. Some people feel abandoned. They have nowhere to go, and they need a place of refuge. Jesus says you must meet these needs because here’s what the Master said: “When you do this for the persons who are less fortunate, the poor, you are doing it for me.” So when you love the community, you’re loving Jesus—even the difficult people, the ones who are stubborn. No matter how much time you talk to them, they’re not listening to you. But when you grow in your love for others, the grace increases.
Conclusion
Here are some things to think about:
- Are you paying attention to the needs of those around you?
- What can you do to demonstrate your love for others?
- What are some of the needs you can identify that people around you have?
Something to think about.