AWAKEN
Awakening to Love
4.28.24

For Paul, a primary indicator of the church being awake was their love for one another.

1 Thessalonians 3:9-13
How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

In order to overflow with love for others we must be increasing in the love of God.

Our inner life always shapes our outer attitudes and actions.

JOY - Be joyful always.

PRAYER - Pray continually.

It is not possible for us to spend all our time with the words of prayer on our lips, but it is possible for us to be all our days in the spirit of prayer, realizing our dependence on God for all we have and are, being conscious of his presence with us wherever we may be, and yielding ourselves continually to him to do his will. Such an inward state will of course find expression from time to time in verbal prayer – Leon Morris

GRATITUDE - Give thanks in all circumstances.