Scripture
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11)
Observation
If there’s one word that seems to be thrown around recklessly these days it’s the word LOVE. Here, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul begins by saying this prayer, that the love of this most gracious and giving people abound more and more. A sincere sentiment in the midst of his imprisonment, Paul doesn’t just blindly use the word love. He quantifies it, saying that this abounding in love needs to be with knowledge and depth of insight, so that the people reading this letter are able to discern the purest and best of Christ’s love, not the often distorted and disorienting world’s view of love.
Application
There are so many cute sayings and axioms when it comes to love. Hallmark has made millions upon millions with their clever and poetic greeting cards, and songwriters have had field days writing songs about love. And while all is meant and intended to inspire feelings of joy and happiness, what Paul writes here is an accurate and timely description of love for us to arise to and apply as we love God and love people.
Love encourages. Yes, our love for other’s needs to be one the offers new hope; one that platforms and promises that God so loved the world, all of us, saint and sinner. When we love others we represent the heart of the Father, receiving everyone unconditionally.
Love disciplines. But we don’t love blindly. We love with a knowledge rooted in the Word of God, discerning when discipline is required. While I unconditionally love my children, I love them too much to let disobedience go without discipline. Not for punishment sake, but for the sake of a true and Christ-like love.
Love is Jesus. Christ offers the perfect example of love. While only Jesus is perfect, we can pursue aligning to His love as we love Him and others.
Prayer
Jesus, may our love abound more and more in Your wisdom and knowledge. Unconditional, but also uncompromising as we align to Your Word and act in Your will.
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
- This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more: The Philippians had a lot of love, and they showed it to Paul. Yet Paul didn’t hesitate to pray that their love would abound still more and more. It doesn’t matter how much love for others we have; we can still have more!
- “That it may be like a river, perpetually fed with rain and fresh streams so that it continues to swell and increase until it fills all its banks, and floods the adjacent plains.” (Clarke)
- That your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment: Yet, the love Paul wanted to abound in the Philippians was not “blind love.” It was love that had knowledge and all discernment; it was love that could approve the things that are excellent.
i. Paul knew the danger of an undiscerning love. He rebuked the Corinthian church that seemed to glory in their “love” and “openness” which lacked any sense of knowledge and discernment (1 Corinthians 5:1-7).
