"I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding." - Philippians 1:9 NLT
Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt that everyone there truly cares for each other? There are smiles, laughter, and hugs being exchanged. Then, as you enter the room, new to the group, you sense the shift as people notice you. In that moment, you can feel the tension building; will you be accepted or rejected? You quickly look around, trying to read their faces or detect any change in their behavior. It’s in that moment that you’ll feel the weight of this next statement.
As Christians, love isn’t just a gift we can give or withhold. In 1 John 4:8, it says, “God is love.” Love isn’t just something God does; it’s part of who He is. And since God’s Spirit lives within us, and He is love, love becomes a part of who we are too. It’s not a gift that we decide to give to some and withhold from others.
This is the beautiful message the Apostle Paul is sharing with the church in Philippi in our verse today. If love is truly who we are because of God’s Spirit in us, it isn’t something we control or choose to give in certain moments. It overflows from us naturally. Notice that Paul doesn’t use the word “overflow” when talking about “knowledge and understanding.”
Growing in knowledge and understanding of Jesus is a personal journey as we learn more about Him. Sometimes, though, we can fall into the trap of thinking it’s more important to share our knowledge than to overflow with love, which can lead to pride and a poor reflection of the love we’ve received from Jesus. In this verse, both love and knowledge are essential, but they must go hand in hand.
HIGHLIGHTED QUOTE: “Love is not a gift to give or withhold, rather it is who we are from the abundant, unconditional love that God gives us and overflows to others.”
TIP OF THE DAY: Seek to learn something new about God today while seeking to demonstrate God’s unconditional, overflowing love to someone.
TALKING TO GOD: Dear Lord, as Your Word says, You demonstrated Your love to me while I was still sinning against You. Please give me Your strength and help me as I walk in Your Spirit today to offer people that same love. May I not withhold my love. Lord, please teach me something new about Yourself today, because I desperately want to learn more about you. Thank you for your unconditional love for me.
PAUSE AND REFLECT
- Who is someone that you have been withholding love from, and why?
- What would it take to truly let God’s love overflow through you to others?
- How can you learn something new about God today?
