“We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.” – 2 Thessalonians 1:3
Think of yourself and your church situation…. Is your faith growing abundantly? Is your love for the other members of your church increasing? These things won’t happen automatically, so pray they would grow and increase. Then use the means God has provided for you to grow in these qualities.
Grow your faith by regularly reading and studying God’s Word. See with your own eyes how God has worked faithfully and miraculously across centuries. Let His absolute power and authority soak into your heart and mind. Recognize that He has power over every situation, problem, issue, and concern that could ever enter your life. Understand His invitation to come to Him in bold prayer and then pray boldly in His will. Keep track of your prayers and when they are answered. Remember what God’s done for His people and what He’s done for you. Meditate on God and His glory. Then, when He calls you to take a step of obedience that requires faith, take the step! Make the sacrifice, embrace the risk, live by faith rather than by sight. Test your faith and see how it grows!
Also, get to know other members of your church well. If you aren’t part of a church, find one ASAP, because that’s a crucial part of God’s will for you! There are dozens of commands in the New Testament that you can’t obey unless you’re relationally close to other Christians, sharing the joys, sorrows, frictions, and reconciliation of life together. Get into some sort of small group of fellow believers studying, growing, laughing, crying, and loving together. Learn to be honest, love others, and be loved. Don’t give up or walk away from the flaws in other believers, learn to love them despite their flaws just as Jesus loves you despite yours. Exercise your love and see how it grows! #FollowJesus