I was doing some thinking today about Love. Paul gives a very interesting and extremely challenging prayer on behalf of the Phillipians he says “I pray that you love may abound more and more in knowledge and insight that you may be able to test and discern what is right and remain pure and blameless till the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ to the glory and praise of God.”
Honestly it sounds rather reverse to me. In our culture we think that through gaining knowledge and insight itself we may learn what is right and wrong, but Paul says it is through love we learn what is right and wrong. That our “love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight” not that our knowledge itself may abound. That our love would grow in insight. That we would grow to a greater knowledge of love. Did you get that?
Our love teaches us how to obey and honor God it is not our knowledge. It’s not the fact that we know Greek, not that we know the correct soteriology, Christology or ecclesiology or whatever else over-excessively smart theological practicum or theory. That doesn’t teach us how to live it is that we love. That our love would grow. That is what teaches us that is what should guide us.
My own personal hope is that my love would grow like Paul prays for the Philipians and that I like Paul could say “G-d can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.”
It is a high goal but if Paul loved with that same love of Christ why shouldn’t we.
BEARDED DISCIPLE 