9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment” – Philippians 1:9
The more you get to know God, the more love should abound. Like a raging fire, one cannot get in near vicinity without feeling the warmth. Trust not those who claim relationship with God, but fail in love and wisdom. Even within the divisive times we now live, the disciple must be near impossible to offend on matters of preference and politic. In matters of injustice, the follower should actively wish to lavish out the grace which they are intimately familiar with upon the hurting and disenfranchised. They too take stands for the value of life – the life made in our Creator’s image – not on grounds of offense, but on the grounds of love.
Yet, in a weird twist of divine humiliation, God wants us not to focus on merely “abounding” in love, but rather abounding in His presence. It is when we are found in the shade of the cross and the accompaniment of our Savior, that we can then abound in love. Love is then a consequence of intimacy with God and never a way towards Him. If we set out to abound in love, we will end up frustrated and missing out on the grace of His presence.
Today, grow in your love for others by basking in His love for you.
Matt simon blog 