The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"More and More"
"To whatever degree we have known and assimilated God's love in heart and life, an infinite measure of His primary character trait awaits our discovery."
The believers of Thessalonica loved God and they loved people.
"We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ" (I Thessalonians 1:2).
This strong affirmation and confirmation notwithstanding, the Apostle Paul called his brothers and sister in Christ to a greater expression self-sacrificial devotion.
"As touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more" (I Thessalonians 4:9).
Underlying this calling for the Thessalonians - and ourselves - to "more and more" walk in love first directs our attention to the Divine rather than the human. "The love of Christ… passeth knowledge" (Ephesians 3:19). To whatever degree we have known and assimilated God's love in heart and life, an infinite measure of His primary character trait awaits our discovery. We will never fully know the sublime heart of God in His devotion to others. Nor will a time come when such light fails in its glory to shine more brightly unto us, upon us, within us, and through us. The Apostle calls us to "more and more" because in both time and eternity, the measureless span of the love of Christ will beckon us to come ever further in our knowledge and response to this "hope of glory" (Colossians 1:27).
Such truth provides the most practical, "down to earth" reality of our lives despite its Heavenly nature and wonder. We exist to know the love of God, and to respond by loving Him and others (Mark 12:30-31). Amid all that this day will involve, these two greatest commands beckon us to the only life that can truly be termed life - "To live is Christ" (Philippians 1:21). The calling casts every believer to our knees and faces upon first consideration, knowing how daunting the challenge, and how often we have neglected this primary gift and responsibility. "More and more" thus floods our awareness in the light of contemplating God's love and our response. How could it be otherwise in the wonder of "the love of Christ passeth knowledge?"
Moses asked to see God's glory. The Lord responded, "I will make all My goodness pass before thee" (Exodus 3:18-19; emphasis added). God revealed His heart to Moses, which led to the man of God's devotion to others. As it will to us upon realizing that the calling to "more and more" love originates in the "more and more" realization of a blessedness far too vast for complete disclosure and discovery. We presently have this day to seek greater awareness of the glory our Lord defines as His goodness. A prayerful heart, an open Bible, and the expectation of our Lord's response to our request will prepare us to better know that which can be known, but never completely. Nothing should more thrill us. Nothing will more fill us. And nothing will more instill in us the heart of devotion to God and others for which He made us in a grace that ever promises "more and more."
"Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more."
(I Thessalonians 4:1)
"But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ."
(II Peter 3:18)
Weekly Memory Verse
In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.
(Romans 8:37)
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