Every human being has three things in common. We need to be loved, we need to learn to love others, and we have people in our lives who need our love. Being loved and loving others is the proven, solid foundation and expression of genuine, authentic living. Truly, the essence of life is in receiving and giving LOVE.
When I read chapter 2 of apostle Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians, I hear his unashamed, genuine expression of his love for them. And as we follow the flow of his thought, we are exposed to LOVE as God meant it to be lived. It also gives us a guide for loving others.
The first thing we discover in Paul’s letter is that the source of genuine love is Jesus Christ and is not dependent on other people. The love Paul communicated to the church of the Thessalonians was of the kind that the world could neither give nor take away. It was the outflow of Paul’s intimate companionship with Christ. “Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our lives as well.” (v.8). Likewise, the outflow of love from our life is directly proportionate to the inflow of Christ’s love into our life and is not dependent on people loving us.
Paul was free to love in spite of what people said and did to him. Imprisonment and persecution did not diminish his love. Neither did he pout about his rejection at Phillipi. “We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.” (v.2). We need to allow the full impact of that truth to stir within our soul. So often we allow our minds to brood over past hurts, rejections, and disappointments, causing a protective covering to form over our heart so that we will not be hurt again.
And as additional hurts come that covering or wall, continues to thicken until we become incapable of emotionally experiencing warmth and love in relationship with God and others. Also, whenever we love in order to solicit or assure a return of love, we will be disappointed and deeply hurt. The basic truth is that no one can love us as much as we need to be loved. Only Jesus Christ can do that.
Too often we inherit the “If you love me, you will do what pleases me” syndrome from parents who used that phrase as a way of getting obedience. And sadly, many continue playing this game all through their life, and it even tarnishes their understanding and relationship with God.
The indwelling, genuine love of Christ makes us honest, direct, and decisive. Genuine Christ-like love wills the ultimate good of the other and initiates needed steps toward that result. If we have genuine love for others, people will know and feel they are loved, valued, and cherished. And they will know that we are willing to make sacrifices on their behalf, in the same way loving parents do for their children.
There is more to learn from these verses, and I plan to do so in my next blog. Until then, I encourage you to read and thoughtfully ponder the truths I have shared with you, and “live lives worthy of God.”
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – October 25, 2023
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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