Love With Knowledge

Philippians 1:7-11

Love With Knowledge

7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

Have you ever longed to meet a friend with whom you share fond memories? He has a similar feeling exhibited here. His love for them is not merely based on his experience with them, but with the unity that comes when we draw strength from Christ`s Love.

We all are part of God`s family through Christ Jesus, and thus share the power of his transformative love. Do you feel the deep love for fellow believers, friends, and strangers alike?

Let the love of Christ motivate you to love others and to express the love in your actions towards them.

That means there is some resulting activity — love in action! This was needed in Philippi, and we need it wherever we live as well, that our love may abound in activity.

Otherwise, it's as James says, faith without works is dead. If love doesn't show itself in some action, then it's not real love.

Often, the best way to influence someone is to pray for them. Paul’s prayer for them is that they will be unified in love. Their love is not based on feelings, but on the deeper knowledge of what Christ has done for them and the in depth insight of moral discernment that the mind and heart must grow together. Heb 5:14 gives us insight into moral discernment.

We need solid food as we mature, and by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

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).

Paul continues, that it was love that could approve the things that are excellent. When we approve and receive the things that are excellent, we become sincere, by these things Christ`s love becomes increasingly evident in our life until Jesus comes.

He reminds us that the work of becoming sincere and without offense is really God’s work within us. It happens as we are filled with the fruits of righteousness.

Bearing fruit is always the result of abiding in Jesus (John 15:4-6). As we abide in Him, we receive the life and nutrients we need to naturally bear fruit to the glory and praise of God.

Ask yourself:
Are our lives as Christ's disciples motivated and governed by His  love?

Do we seek wisdom and insight from the Holy Spirit in the study of the Word and in prayer?

Let us Pray:
Father, you are the One of whom it is said, God is love. Let our experience more and more of your love. Through love let my life and all my actions be defined. In Jesus Name. Amen.

Blessings & Prayers 

Pastor. Bobby Leonard