⁹ And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, ¹⁰ so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ – to the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:9-11

Do you remember that Gospel show that would start with the preacher-man saying “Love is the feeling you feel when you feel you’re gonna feel a feeling you’ve never felt before?” Umm… errr… let’s just move right along shall we? Paul doesn’t pray that the Philippians would feel a feeling that they would feel when they feel they’re gonna feel a feeling they’ve never felt before. Would you imagine that? He prays prayers of more substance than that. Actually Christian love is seldom described as a feeling but often as something rooted in godly knowledge, understanding and wisdom. For reference see what Paul prayed for the Colossians in Col 1:9.

Deeply rooted Christian love also brings about growth and maturity – it’s an abounding love. It results in discernment – knowing God’s will, in purity – pleasing God in every situation. It brings about the fruit of righteousness which comes in Jesus Christ, all to the glory of God. That’s the kind of love we need to have and the kind of love we need to pray for our dear brothers and sisters in Jesus.

As you pray for others today, pray prayers of substance; prayers that will give them the amazing love of Jesus that leads to God-glorifying Christian growth and maturity. Amen!

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