THE WILL TO LOVE - Vital Christianity

42To love Jesus is to love His people and the test of that love is service: feeding Hislambs and sheep—ministering to immature and mature Christians. Jesus is saying that our lovefor Him is not wrapped up in some mystical experience, rather, it is expressed in caring forothers.The thermometer of our love for Jesus is our love for one another, and the test of thatlove is service. For service is the practical expression of our commitment to God and His people.Service is love in overalls.While God is the source of love, and Christ is the proof of love, service is the expressionof love.AN EXAMPLEThe church at Thessalonica is an example of service—love in action.Paul wrote:“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. Wecontinually remember before our God and Father your work produced byfaith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired byhope in our Lord Jesus Christ.Brothers loved by God, we know that He has chosen you, because our gospelcame to you not simply with words, but with power, with the Holy Spirit andwith deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. Youbecame imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, youwelcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And you becamea model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia . . . the Lord’s messagerang out from you not only in Machedonia Achaia—your faith in God hasbecome known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything aboutit, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell howyou turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” (1 Th 1:2-9).Here is no theoretical love, no useless faith, no empty hope. Here is faith, hope andlove being expressed in a very concrete way.Paul, Silas and Timothy who ministered to these Christians at Thessalonica alsoillustrate this concrete love. Paul writes,