love for others

Have you taken up the "Thessalonian Challenge"? Paul tells the church at Thessalonika:

"Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more" 1 Thess 4:9-10

It's that "more and more" or "excel still more" challenge that we want to consider. As I have discussed this idea with others, it seems that love for others has different "textures" or "layers". For instance:

1. Welcoming - This is simply being a friendly person. Greeting new people, being warm and genuine, taking the initiative to say "hello", making contact.
   
2. Inviting - Inviting takes welcoming to the next level. Being an inviting person means inviting others into your world. Asking people to sit next to you. Asking someone over for a meal. Bringing people into your sphere of relationships.
3. Encouraging - We encourage when we enter the lives of others with words and actions that speak the love and grace of Christ into their lives. Here we have won the right to speak the truth in love in a way that builds up and strengthens our pursuit of God. These might be words of consolation, comfort, or challenge. Better yet, all of the above - in love!

We could add more. But if we all begin to consciously practice these we'll go a long way in realizing the "Thessalonian Challenge"!