⁹Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; ¹⁰for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more …

What do you say to a church that is already doing well in their love for one another? Paul says there is little to add. Their love has shown the evidence of the supernatural. Indeed, love cannot be taught through human words and explanations. Certainly it can be illustrated and modeled. But genuine Christian love is of the supernatural realm; it originates from God.

There are two different words for love used in this passage. The first is part of a compound word, “philadelphias,” translated as “love of the brethren.” The second is a word combination at the end of the sentence, “agapan allēlous,” translated “love one another.” Much has been made of the nuanced differences between the two kinds of love, “pheleo” and “agape” love, but in this passage Paul uses them virtually with the same meaning. The love of the brethren is made possible because they were taught by God to love one another. Paul may have modeled that and even explained it. But the actual teaching of love is a divine work of God. Efforts to fake this kind of love will fall short and give way to personal interests.

Much affection and human love surely exist in the world, but these have their limits. Christian love is, at its core, self-giving, self-denying, utterly focused on the good of others. Even writing this, the temptation is to provide caveats, where love cannot possibly be extended beyond a personal limit. Yet Paul gives no such parameters. In fact, he urges them on “to excel still more …” He is merely fanning the flame that God has started in their hearts and wills.

Notice, this love of the brethren extends past their own local church fellowship to all the believers in Macedonia. That would include places like Berea and Philippi (Acts 17), where Paul had established churches, as well as other new Christian communities that resulted from the Thessalonians’ testimony “in every place your faith toward God has gone forth” (1 Thess. 1:8). Their love was infectious and unbounded.

Why does the spark of God’s love not grow to a brilliant flame in all Christians? Paul had to teach the struggling, self-absorbed Corinthians about love (1 Corinthians 13), but with the Thessalonians he urged them to excel in what they already knew and were doing. Each must choose to take the teaching as from God and allow His love to burn through them to others.

Lord, may Your love burn brightly through me.