Verse from 1 Thessalonians

“又愿主叫你们彼此相爱的心，和爱众人的心，都充充足足，多而又多，好象我们爱你们一样。”

帖撒罗尼迦前书 3:12 

“May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

1 Thessalonians 3:12 

Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians is filled with warmth and tenderness for dear friends. He ministered in the midst of suffering, imprisonment, and persecution, but his passion for seeing people (like the Thessalonians) enter into relationship with Christ was undeterred. As a result, Paul endured these almost continuous hardships without losing his focus on the needs of people. This is clearly seen in 2 Corinthians 11:22–33, where Paul catalogues the price he paid for the gospel and for them. 

While we may never suffer as the apostle did, how might we wisely respond to the trials we do encounter so that others can be touched by God’s love?  

During difficulties we often choose to complain and ask, Why? Or wonder, Why me? Another way to handle those times could be to ask the Lord to expand His love in our hearts and to help us take the new opportunities that come to love others.