Did the Philippian church understand the significance of Paul’s prayer on their behalf, “that (their) love may abound more and more?” How does love overflow? What characterizes abounding love? I’m not sure about you, but I question the genuineness of my love for others the most when love becomes difficult or seems impossible. Do you sometimes feel the same way?
Let us remember that Paul was praying for the people who formed the young church in Philippi. First, we met Lydia, a wealthy “dealer in cloth” and members of her family (Acts 16:14). She was the first recorded non-Jewish convert in Europe. Then we see a young girl whom Paul set free from demonic possession (Acts 16:18). Next we are introduced to the Philippian jailer and his family (Acts 16:25-40). These people came from drastically different backgrounds. However, we discover the Philippian church flourishes with only minor problems of disunity (Philippians 4:2-7).
Nevertheless, Paul records his sincere prayer for this strong and generous church.
“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
Your Love May Overflow
The Greek word perissos means to superabound, be in excess, be superfluous and to cause to excel. Paul prays that love should not only fill their hearts, but “overflow” and influence their spiritual understanding.
Paul uses the most intense word for love — agape, a selfless, pure, willful, sacrificial love that desires the greatest good for another. Agape intentionally chooses to love someone … even difficult someones. It does not come from an emotional level but a choice of the will.
We often think of love as a soft anything goes kind of love. “Just love!” people might say, “Love is enough!” Nothing could be further from the truth. The commitment to the benefit of the other determines the level agape will rise in any situation. No other demonstration of agape love reaches the depth nor the height of the love of Christ.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Romans 5:8
Talk about a tough love! A love that went beyond the limit!
Knowledge and Discernment
Neither does the love Paul prays for come from mere human decision. Love overflows only when based upon experiential knowledge. This knowledge gradually increases. It includes a knowledge of God gained under the inspiration of the Holy Spiri and also the knowledge of others whom we love. For enduring love we need such knowledge. The foundation of agape love included the coordination of knowledge, including thought, practice, and loving devotion.
To knowledge Paul adds “depth of insight.” Other Bible versions substitute words such as discernment, perception, or understanding.
The Message Bible says, “… that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover’s life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of.”
Depth of insight includes the senses and signifies an ability to recognize a truth like taste recognizes different types of food. Love must be tested! Maturity and experience help us discern when love is genuine and when it is not. Agape love “discerns what is best” — when to speak and when to be silent, when to act and when to refrain, when to give and when to withhold from giving.
Pure and Blameless
The love of Jesus results in the transformation of the beloved.
” … to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Ephesians 5:27
Knowledge and discernment pave the way. Only through Jesus Christ may such righteous thought, attitude, and action overflow into radical transformative love. But when it does, both loved and lover become “filled with the fruit of righteousness.”
In a practical way, what does that mean for you and me?
The war we wage for love occurs between our ears; in the thoughts we allow to ruminate in our minds. Let’s be clear. We either reject or entertain thoughts. Any thought that does not align with the agape love of Jesus should have no place for those who profess Him as Savior.
The love we receive from God grows in the fertile ground of “holy and blameless” thinking focused with knowledge and discernment on the true and even eternal benefit toward others. For me, as perhaps for you, this feels like true warfare, refusing to give the enemy any part of my thoughts.
Let’s be honest! We fight a war for love. Wounded, angry, resentful, and hurting people often react from personal pain, catching others in the crossfire. How will we respond? Paul’s prayer forms the relevant solution for today. Our response must be one of love with knowledge and discernment.
Prayer
Lord, Your Word challenges and inspires us to better ways of life.
And this is our prayer, Lord Jesus, may our love abound, overflow, and excel more and more.
Grant us true and full knowledge, understanding, and perception to know what love looks like in our present situations. Lord, give us a supernatural discernment, depth of insight, and spiritual sense of when love becomes artificial or distorted. May we be able to discern, know, and understand what is best and may we be found pure and blameless in every thought, attitude and action.
On the day of Christ, we know we will stand before you to give an account, not of our intensions, but of our thoughts, attitudes, and actions.
May we be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes only through an ever-growing relationship with You, Jesus Christ. Our greatest desire, Lord, is to bring glory and praise to God our Father. Oh, Lord, that love may overflow — true, mature, faithfilled agape love.
Amen
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