Knowledgable Love

Paul Loved the Philippians

Paul stated that as God as His witness He loved them like Jesus loved them. Jesus loves unconditionally and enough to gibe His life for those he loves. Paul is no different. During his time in Philippi it was not easy. You recall the people attacked him, beat him, and put him in prison. He made the chief magistrates lead them out of the town rather than leave secretly.

Paul did not have an easy time in Philippi. He loved them because he knew of their love for Jesus and their love for him. Last week we saw where they were partakers of grace with him. He ultimately would give his life for the same love that the Philippians had for Jesus.

This is a reminder to us that we should love those that love Jesus and love us. I know the Bible says that we are even to love our enemies, but it does not say to the exclusion of those who are near and dear to us.

Who in your life do you love the same way Paul loved the Philippians? You probably think of someone like you spouse or your children, or your parents, or our closest friends. Paul demonstrates that our love should broaden beyond the fore mentioned. We should have love for those that are on mission with us to glorify God.

As my daughter is leaving for the middle east, I am learning something unique. Her fiance’ has several family and friends back in the states that he loves. However there is tremendous sorrow for having to leave Jordan and come back to the states. Not because he doesn’t love Tatum, his family, or his friends. It is because he is leaving behind those who were serving on purpose with him for the cause of Christ. There is something special about that bond that seems to go beyond the love that we have for those we are “suppose” to love. They have become family to him.

We should broaden our love to those who are on mission with us to accomplish the purposes of God

Abounding Love

Paul prayed that that the Philippians love for Christ and one another would continue to grow. The love he prayed for was not one of emotion but of knowledge and righteousness. He desired that they would come to know Christ more intimately. The way they would do this is by prayer and sharing what Christ was doing. The more you get to know Christ the deeper your love for Him grows.

So how do we get to know Christ? Time and desire. If you want to know Jesus you will spend the time necessary to know Him. This is done in many different ways. Reading His word is the best way to get to know Jesus. Many of the facets of Jesus are covered in the gospels. You can read a detailed description of Jesus Life in the book of Luke. You can see the many miracles that He did as Mark emphasizes the Miracles of Christ. Matthew writes about the Jewishness of Jesus life. John gives a wonderful description of the Love of Jesus.

The Bible also shares the teachings and commandments of Christ. They share the teachings in the temple. They teach the parables Jesus used. The scriptures also teach life principles in the sermon on the mount.

The Bible shows how Jesus interacted with people struggling with sin, sickness, and spiritual oppression. The Bible teach us more than we can possibly know about the life of Jesus.

We can come to know Jesus through prayer. Prayer is a privilege that God has given us to communicate with Him. Though we communicate in words, He communicates to our hearts. For example He will give us passions in our prayers. He will lay people on our hearts to pray. He will convict us of sin for the purpose of repentance. He affords us opportunity to express gratitude for our blessings as well as our trials.

We can come to know Jesus through personal experience. When we employ His principles in our life we receive His promises. When we obey His commandments we experience his love. When we pray according to His will, He manifests Himself in our life.

There are many more ways we can get to know Christ, but these are three predominate ways.

Love Others

Paul also prayed that the Philippians love for one another would grow. This happens by living life together. Spending time together in the ordinary and walking through the extraordinary together. We celebrate the good times together and pull one another through the difficult times.

The strength of a church is on its relationships. When you have a church that has strong internal relationships, you have a church that can sustain the times of church strain.

It takes time in order to build those relationships. Perhaps years. The more you get to know people by the ministry of hanging out the more you will come to understand and love them.

Discover Excellent Things

When you learn to broaden your love life becomes much more enjoyable. You will find that you are able to do excellent things. Love drives us to do what is best. In doing what is best you will find yourself blameless. Gal. 5:22-23

Galatians 5:22–23 (NASB95)

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

These are the excellent things. These are symptoms of love! The Bible says that against such things there is no law. When our hearts motives are driven by the fruits of the Spirit, we are blameless.

Be filled With the Fruits of Righteousness

James 3:18 NASB95

And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

The reward for loving Christ, others and doing excellent things is PEACE! This is what we all desire. It is good to lay your head down at night and rest knowing that you gave all the love you could give to Christ and others that day.

When you are doing the excellent things out of love and others criticize you, it doesn’t matter because you have peace in your heart knowing that you are doing the right thing.