1 Thessalonians 4:9-10

Now concerning love of the brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anyone write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do love all the brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, beloved, to do so more and more...

My favorite image of how love works is a visual one. It's the image of a flame. 

Light a candle. Now take that candle and light another candle. See the light spread. Each time you take that flame and light another candle, the light does not diminish. You can't take away from it. You can only make it bigger.

That is how love works.

Love more and more, Paul says.

Because that's what love is meant for. It is meant to be expansive.

Wide.

Broad.

Huge.

It starts small. But if you try to keep it small, you eventually will extinguish it.

There is a prayer that has been attributed to Mother Teresa, that she herself paraphrased from American writer and educator, Dr. Kent Keith. Dr. Keith called this prayer "The Paradoxical Commandments" - and like the original commandments there are ten.

The first one is this: "People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered. Love them anyway."

Love more and more.

Start with those near you - especially the difficult ones - and keep expanding, growing, and widening just like that flame.

And imagine how a love not snuffed out, but instead allowed to spread like wildfire, can change the world.

Let your love spread like fire, Lord, starting in my heart and ever moving outward. Amen.