October 7, 2012
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GOD IS LOVE
Always: Always Love
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers. 1 Thessalonians 1:2
The word “always” occurs nearly 100 times in the Bible. It’s often used by Paul to describe certain Christian behaviors we should manifest. We’re to be “always abounding in the work of the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58), “always confident that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:6), “always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus” (2 Corinthians 4:10), and “always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
In Christ, we “always” have all sufficiency in all things (2 Corinthians 9:8) and should be zealous in good works “always” (Galatians 4:18). Our speech should “always be with grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6) as we await the day we’ll “always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Paul “always” prayed for his friends with thanksgiving and love (1 Thessalonians 1:2). There should be no breaks in our love for others and no blackouts in the consistency of our Christian lives. Our model, Christ, “always lives to make intercession” for us (Hebrews 7:25).
To Christ we are to be always coming; upon Him always relying; to His precious blood always looking.
