Love is a Verb
When we were developing Resurrection's “Love your neighbor” campaign for the Church’s 30th Anniversary last fall, one of the phrases that represented what we wanted to share with our community was “Love is a verb.” In today’s Scripture passage, the Apostle Paul is again reminding the Thessalonians that love is a practical behavior, not just a nice feeling.
He writes encouraging words to the Thessalonica church in verse 9, acknowledging that its members are loving one another as brothers and sisters. He continues to praise that they’re even doing loving deeds for Christians throughout Macedonia through their financial support. But Paul doesn’t stop there. He goes on, in verse 10, to challenge the church to do even more.
I imagine the Thessalonians asked themselves the same questions I ask myself: What does it look like to do even more? Do we quit working, give up everything and become missionaries like Paul?
Fortunately, Paul doesn’t leave us hanging. He goes on to explain in verse 11 and 12: “Aim to live quietly, mind your own business, and earn your own living, just as I told you. That way you’ll behave appropriately toward outsiders, and you won’t be in need.”
Some followers are called to spread the Gospel like Paul, but for many the Gospel message is spread as we live our everyday lives-–caring for one another and putting our love in action. Paul isn’t asking the Thessalonians (or us) to withdraw from the culture, but rather to be a positive influence.
In a divisive culture, where people are quick to take sides, argue and attack, what could happen if we “did more” to put our love in action, caring for others while at the same time living quietly, minding our own business?
“It is no use walking anywhere to preach unless our walking is our preaching.”
–St. Francis of Assisi
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May 16, 2021 at 09:38AM
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“God has already taught you to love” - Church of the Resurrection
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