Without the revelation and knowledge that the scriptures impart to us, we would be lost and without hope. All other hopes eventually fade. Everything that is not rooted in God will crumble. The Bible says, “The grass withers and the flowers fade but the Word of God abides forever” (Isaiah 40:8). But when our hope is rooted in the Eternal One we find direction, purpose and a future filled with blessing.

The eternal realm that our Father and Yeshua are drawing us into is rooted at its very core – in love. For example, consider the benediction that the Apostle Paul prays over us, “may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love.” (1 Thessalonians 3:12)

The Eternal Spirit of love who has called us is meant to be manifested practically in our relationships. God’s heart is that we would not pull back from people, close ourselves off, or live in spiritual isolation. His desire is that we would expand our hearts to increase and overflow in love.

Consider the Dead Sea in Israel. It has no outlet so its water becomes stagnant and cannot sustain life. It is dead and becomes stagnant because it only receives and never gives out – there is no outflow of water.

That is what happens to us when we stop serving others. When there is no love toward people—no connecting, no blessing and strengthening, no pouring into other people’s lives—we become lifeless like the Dead Sea. We were not created merely to receive. We were created to give, to pour out, and to let the love of God flow through us to those around us. We need to guard against becoming self-isolated but instead push forward to connect with, love and serve others.

It is interesting that right after admonishing us to increase in love, the next thing Paul writes is that as we are strengthened to love, our hearts will be established and made blameless in holiness. Paul is connecting the idea of increasing in love with being established in holiness.

“So that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” 1 Thessalonians 3:13

As we open our hearts to others, the Lord strengthens us, establishes us, and forms holiness within us. His blessing is not only for us to receive, but for us to become a source of life to others through love.

“Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7). “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served.” (Mark 10:45).