Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 2:14-20.  Here is a link to this Scripture – https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians+2&version=NASB1995

I quote only the following verses.

“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short while—in person, not in spirit—were all the more eager with great desire to see your face.  For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—and yet Satan hindered us.  For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation?  Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?  For you are our glory and joy.”  1 Thessalonians 2:17-20. 

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It is amazing enough that Paul loved the Thessalonians that much, but Paul also loved the Philippians and the Corinthians and others likewise.

“Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.”  Philippians 4:1. 

“I will most gladly spend and be expended for your souls.  If I love you more, am I to be loved less?”  2 Corinthians 12:15.

We remember the commandment of our Lord to love one another in the following Scripture, and we remember so many other exhortations and encouragements to love one another through the Scriptures.

“This is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us.”  1 John 3:23.

We may feel that we fall so far short of how we should love another.

But, there is hope!

We stop looking inward and we start looking up. 

“We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.  … We love, because He first loved us.”  1 John 4:16 and 19. 

“and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;  so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”  1 Thessalonians 3:12-13.

We stop loving through the flesh and we start loving through the Spirit.

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;  against such things there is no law.”  Galatians 5:22-23.