Is Your Love Flowing Today?

⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
-Philippians 1:9-11 (NLT)


I think these verses from Philippians 1 are probably what most Pastor's would pray for their congregation. Paul was a mentor, or a father figure, to this church at Phillipi, and he wanted them to grow into the people that Jesus wants them to be. This is my prayer for the people who come in contact with ScriptureLinks, make this your prayer to the people you come in contact with each day as well. For the next 2 days, we'll break down these verses and see what each phrase of this prayer means for us. Le't break down verse 9.

Verse 9 says, "I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding." Paul is praying that their love will overflow. Their love for God, Jesus, others, that is what Paul was praying for. Galatians 5:22-23 gives us the fruit of the Spirit, the things, or qualities, that should be evident, and growing in our lives. The first one is love. Is love growing in your life? Or, does hatred still hold a prominent place in your life? Look at these verses from First John 3:16-19, "¹⁶ We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷ If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? ¹⁸ Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions. ¹⁹ Our actions will show that we belong to the truth, so we will be confident when we stand before God." Jesus gave us the benchmark of love. How? Because He gave up His life for you and I. So, we must give up our lives for someone else. How can I do that. Verse 17 gives us an example. Then, in verse 18, John issues a challenge. "Dear children, let's not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions." Let us not just say that we love others, let us show it by our actions. Paul prays in Philippians 1:9 "I pray that your love will overflow more and more." The more you love others that more your love will grow. The second half of Philippians 1:9 says, "and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding." Paul's prayer is twofold. That their love will overflow and that they will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. You can't grow in knowledge and understanding if you don't have love. If you don't love, then you will not grow in the knowledge and understanding of God. Why? Preachers preach the Word out of their love for God and for others. Teachers teach because they love children and want them to grow up into good people. First Responders put their lives on the line because they want to help others. Christians love others because Jesus loves us.


When our love overflows, then we are in a place to truly hear from God, so that we can grow in knowledge and understanding of Him. Is your love flowing today? Think About It.