Abounding in Love

Sometimes we think of love as something static – either we love someone or we don’t, but Christian love grows deeper over time. There are some people who become harder to love the more we get to know them, but Christian love continues to love regardless of the person’s deserving it. This is what Paul is speaking about in today’s reading.

Philippians 1:9–11 NIV84

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 until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

The church in Philippi was near and dear to Paul’s heart. They had sent him financial aid as well as sending Epaphroditus to help take care of his needs. Much of this letter is Paul’s expression of love for them and gratitude for their partnership in the gospel. Even so, his prayer for them us that they would grow even more in love.

Abounding in love

This love is not affection or a feeling, but actively seeking the benefit of the one so loved.

Continuous growth

God does not want us standing still, maintaining the status quo. The Christian life is a process of ongoing growth, more and more. The goal is to become like Christ, loving others as He loved us.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 NIV84

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Who should we love

For Jesus

For others – when we have real love for Jesus we cannot help but love those who are part of Jesus’ family, for they are his brothers and sisters, and ours as well.

If we love any subject, we want to learn more about it; if we love any person, we want to learn more about them; if we love Jesus, we will want to learn more about him and about his truth.

How should we love

Knowledge – through experience and personal relationship, knowing Jesus in an intimacy made possible through his self-disclosure and received by faith

Knowing who Jesus is

Knowing what Jesus has done for us

Insight - able to make a moral decision, distinguish between right and wrong, wisdom to do the right thing and to speak the right word in every circumstance.

Result of growing in love

Discernment – determine what is best based on their growing knowledge and insight; knowing how best to express that love. Discern, and then to practice in their Christian living, the really important issues in their corporate life as a believing Christian community.

Paul doesn’t want the Philippians, or us to settle for what is good, we are to seek what is best.

Pure and blameless – sincere and not giving offense

Filled with the fruit of righteousness – Lives which demonstrate right behavior, developed by Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Results in glory and praise to God