Philippians 1:9-10 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, English Standard Version (ESV)
Our men's Bible study group just completed a study in the Gospel of John. I've been thinking and praying about what book to study next and I've been repeatedly drawn to the book of Philippians where we find today's verses.
Paul wrote letters to several churches and these letters have been preserved for us and in essence, were written for those churches and us as well. Some of us send out family letters, updates about what is going on in our lives, most often sent along with Christmas cards. By and large, the letters are about us. Contrast here, this letter from Paul is all about them. As you read this first chapter Paul speaks of his remembrance and prayers for "you", in the south it would be y'all or even all y'all. In verse 6 he states that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it". Paul yearned for them and what's best for them.
Today's prayer for the Philippian church and for us is that our love would "abound", it would grow more and more as the day of Christ's return draws nearer. That word abound brings to mind thoughts of overflowing, of joy. In my e-Bible I have saved a note which reads, "Paul gave a specific prayer request. He did not ask them to pray for him, but rather he expressed his prayer for them. As our key verse states, Paul wanted their love to "abound." The word abound implies significant, extravagant growth. Paul did not want their love to dry up or stay the same, but to increase exponentially."
Those of us who are parents or grandparents have this kind of desire for their children and grandchildren, "extravagant growth". We want them to grow into responsible adults, living lives of faith and in themselves passing on the torch to the next generation.
The verses are also a prayer for you, that your faith, that your love for God would grow, would abound, would overflow into the lives of others, for His honor and glory. May it be so for "y'all" today.
Blessings,
Mike
Philippians 1:3-11The Message (MSG)
A Love That Will Grow
3-6 Every time you cross my mind, I break out in exclamations of thanks to God. Each exclamation is a trigger to prayer. I find myself praying for you with a glad heart. I am so pleased that you have continued on in this with us, believing and proclaiming God's Message, from the day you heard it right up to the present. There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.
7-8 It's not at all fanciful for me to think this way about you. My prayers and hopes have deep roots in reality. You have, after all, stuck with me all the way from the time I was thrown in jail, put on trial, and came out of it in one piece. All along you have experienced with me the most generous help from God. He knows how much I love and miss you these days. Sometimes I think I feel as strongly about you as Christ does!
9-11 So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and 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: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.
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