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,
Philippians 1:9-10 NIV
The Context and Focus:
The letter to the church in Phiippi was written by both Paul and Timothy; two people with a mentor-mentee relationship. Paul had met this young man on one of his missionary journeys, and has brought him up in the knowledge of God. Now, the young man was a minister now, and a great helper to Paul in his own assignments. This is the power of Spirit- led life; when God is in charge of your heart and life, He will bring lives your way for you to touch with the same grace you have received. Paul had shown a great example of what love really is; the people of his own time would not have had anything to do with a boy whose father was a Gentile. He knew the potential of this young man, and today, we have 2 letters written in the name of this young man. Are there lives God has placed in your care? Are there lives God is depending on you to impact the right way for Him? It is a responsibility with earthly and eternal consequences, and it is not to be taken lightly. Everyone created by God has a role to play on the earth s/he has been planted, and by the right guidance and leadership, the best will be unearthed. May God find me a vessel He can entrust lives with.
The Message:
The audience Paul and Timothy was writing to is also relevant here. These were people referred to as 'God's Holy people in Christ Jesus' as well as their 'overseers and deacons'. One main character trait of people described in this way, out of many others, is their love. You cannot speak of a Christian properly so called, and fail to recognise the presence of God's kind of love. The fruit of the Holy Spirit has different dimensions, and love sits as the first mention. How can you even call a person by the name of Christ, and you cannot find the imprint of Christ in and on the person's life? That connection or association with Christ is one that cannot be ignored or denied. One amazing thing about love is the fact that it cannot be quantified as small or little, yet it has capacity to abound more and more, as you get to know and appreciate the depth and scope of the love we were first shown, and the God who designed and made manifest this love. He did not just make a claim to love us; he showed it to us, even at a time when we were not worthy, and even without any assurance that we will surrender our lives to Him. This is love.
The Conclusion:
The understanding of the love I have been shown, and which I have received and responded to, has an eternal end, and it is that I may be guided in my thoughts and actions. This is what the other part of today's verse seems to make clear. God's love is revealed to man, so man can receive it, and be guided by it, being able to discern what is best to do in any and every situation. God does not leave us in doubt as to what His perfect will is, but He does not compel us to submit to Him. This has to be an exercise of my freewill, but I must know today that actions, as well as inaction, have eternal consequences. The end of all that God has given us is that we be found in Him when he returns. He desires that we be pure and blameless as we wait for the day of Christ, which will certainly come. If all of God's promises are known to be true, I must not pick and choose only that which makes me comfortable. He returns one day soon, and he comes to take with Him those who have responded to and embraced His love. Have you? Have I truly done so too? Remember, eternity is too long a time not to be sure of where you will spend it. God's time of favour is here.
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