Love Each Other More and More

2 Thessalonians 4:9-10 tells us to love each other. Then Paul, its writer tells us to do so "more and more". Love more and more -- beyond loving each other -- do it more, Paul is saying. Wow!

How many times have I felt like I've loved enough? Given everything I could and then finally had enough when I didn't get the result I envisioned? But, we're told here to keep loving, keep trying, keep "digging" into each others lives. MORE! Just do it more!

Back in November, one of my close friends was really struggling. I wanted so much to help, to solve every situation, to do the hard work that he needed to do to come out of a major crisis. Problem was, I was working harder at his "stuff" than he was. At one point, I concluded that it was time to throw in the proverbial towel -- I had enough! I even told him "I can't want this more than you do!"

While it is true that we must each be responsible for our "own stuff", I'm not convinced that those on the journey with me should not be able to know to that I'll always be there, that I'll always love and love and love...more and more... no matter what. That's what Jesus does -- we blow it, He loves, we do great, He loves, we go up and down and around corners and HE LOVES!

Got someone in your life who you're going deeper with who's struggling? Love them MORE! Got someone in your life who you know will go under without someone there for them? Love them MORE!

Paul calls it "brotherly love" and he says that we are taught this kind of love by GOD! If it's the kind of thing God teaches -- then we had best learn it...and live it!

Going "Deeper"

I've been watching the responses to my question on the level at which we are going with our spiritual partners.

For the group that desires to go deeper, here are some ideas to get you started:

1. Share deeply yourself -- often when one person begins to "go deeper", the other is given permission to do so themselves. Let me give you an example -- sorry ladies if this makes no sense to you -- When I go to my gym to work out, the locker room is filled with naked men! This is certianly not a typical scene in our culture, so what's happening? Well, essentially, permission has been given. If only one strange man was doing this, everyone else would run the other way -- and maybe call the police! But since a high percentage of guys are "joining the club", others feel perfectly fine in the "unbridled nakedness" of the locker room -- it suddenly is completely natural! You don't even notice after awhile. The same thing works here -- you open up, and it's more comfortable for the other person to do the same.

2. Ask each other this question for starters, "what are some things about you that I need to know to really "get" you, to know the real you? What makes you you?" Truth is that it's the "really get me" level things answers that are often the deeper, less obvious things -- childhood, upbringing, family life, past trauma, times in our life that were tough, etc.

For those who are still praying for someone, my advice would be to start "dating"! I know, I know! ...What I mean is that you should simply schedule coffee or lunch with someone in your small group or a fellow believer at work. Spend time getting to know them on a more surface level, talk about possible similarities in your lives, see where it goes. Then pray about trying it again, but go a little further. Eventually you'll know if you should "pop the question"!

I am convinced that the depth of relationships that we have will directly impact our growth as believers and take us further than we could have ever gone on our own.