February 14, 2005
“And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…” Philippians 1:9
The foundation of Paul’s prayer for the Philippians was that their love for God and for others would increase. That increased love would then in turn manifest itself in “knowledge” and “insight.”
Read I John 4:7-10, 11, 20.
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for loves comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love” not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
“Dear friends, since God so loves us, we also ought to love one another…If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.”
When we read John’s letter we see the depth of love that God has for us. The depth of God’s love toward us should in turn motivate us to a deep and abiding love of God and for others that is without limits.
I believe that this raises a very important question. “How can I know if my love for God is abounding more and more?” I believe that the answer is found at the end of verse 9.
Ask yourself…
• First, “Is my knowledge of the word of God, the character of God, the precepts that God has given me to live by growing?” If our love of God is abounding more and more then there should be a direct correlation to the knowledge of God and His plan for our lives.
• Second, “Are my decisions and choices that I am making based upon God and His word?” If our love of God is abounding more and more then there should be an increased ability to make sound and practical decisions based upon our knowledge of God.
“Father, I praise you for the perfect gift of Your Son Jesus Christ, and I pray that my love for You would abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…”
