Increase and Abound in Love — 1 Thessalonians 3:11–13

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Scripture • World English Bible

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13

WEB

¹¹Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.

¹²May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,

¹³to the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

World English Bible (WEB) • Public Domain

Reflection

Paul prays that God the Father and the Lord Jesus would guide the Thessalonians to one another and would cause their love to increase and overflow toward each other and toward all people, so that their hearts would be established blameless in holiness when Jesus returns. The passage ties growth in love directly to spiritual formation: God’s work in directing our relationships produces practical love—encouragement, mutual care, disciplined living, and sacrificial service—which shapes our moral character. This is not sentimentalism or inward feeling but concrete, Christ‑centered transformation: faithful love builds holiness and steady hope. The coming of the Lord frames the prayer—our present conduct matters because we live under Christ’s lordship and await his return. Believers are to pursue love that reaches beyond the congregation, to live disciplined lives that honor God, and to encourage one another so hearts are established and blameless before God at Christ’s coming.

Putting Faith Into Action

Invite a neighbor to share a meal and listen to their story
Commit to one regular, practical way to serve someone in your church this month (meals, errands, childcare)
Set a weekly check-in to encourage one believer toward holiness and hope in Jesus

Prayer

Father and God of our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our ways toward one another by your Spirit. Increase and cause your love to abound in us toward one another and toward all people. Establish our hearts blameless in holiness before you as we await the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Where love is weak, kindle it; where hearts are distracted, steady them on Jesus. Use our renewed love to strengthen faith and point others to Christ. In his name, Amen.

Memory Verse

1 Thessalonians 3:12 — May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you, (WEB)

“May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another and toward all men, even as we also do toward you,”

Keep Going Continue to Part 10 God’s Will: Your Sanctification — 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 1 Thessalonians · 1 Thessalonians 4:1–8 Read the next devotional →

Bible Context

Read all of 1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3

World English Bible • WEB

¹Therefore when we couldn’t stand it any longer, we thought it good to be left behind at Athens alone,

²and sent Timothy, our brother and God’s servant in the Good News of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith,

³that no one would be moved by these afflictions. For you know that we are appointed to this task.

⁴For most certainly, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we are to suffer affliction, even as it happened, and you know.

⁵For this cause I also, when I couldn’t stand it any longer, sent that I might know your faith, for fear that by any means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor would have been in vain.

⁶But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and brought us glad news of your faith and love, and that you have good memories of us always, longing to see us, even as we also long to see you.

⁷For this cause, brothers, we were comforted over you in all our distress and affliction through your faith.

⁸For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.

⁹For what thanksgiving can we give again to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sakes before our God,

¹⁰night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and may perfect that which is lacking in your faith?