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ABOUNDING LOVE
SATURDAY, APRIL 8
Philippians 1:9-11

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

 

“…that your love may abound…”

 

ABOUNDING LOVE
 
The church at Philippi was characterised by its love. The deep mutual love and affection that Paul and the church had for each other is especially clear in the opening and closing verses of this epistle. Yet as Paul wrote this epistle to thank and encourage them, his prayer for them was that their love might abound.
 
To “abound” (Phil 1:9) means to increase; to be in abundance, to overflow. In Paul’s prayer, it was for them to grow in their abundance of love, both in the quantity and quality of it. To further emphasise that idea, Paul added the phrase “yet more and more” (Phil 1:9). Yes, that was Paul’s desire, that their love would increase and keep on increasing more and more!
 
You may read this and wonder: Why did Paul make such a request? Were not the Philippians a very loving church already? Surely as a faithful church they would have sincerely loved the Lord! Did Paul not just commend them for their loving care and support for him? Why did Paul need to pray that their love would abound?
 
When Paul made that prayer, it was not an indication that they were lacking or deficient in their love. But, as it is for every believer, there are always aspects in a believer’s love that can be improved upon. While we have the love of God shed abroad in our hearts from the time that we are saved, it is something that we must certainly grow in. To have our love abound, means to increase our zeal towards God and His Word, increase in our fervour in service, worship, and evangelism, and increase in our desire to obey and glorify Him. Love is certainly an essential virtue in our relationship and walk with God.
 
Certainly no one who is honest with himself can ever declare that he is sufficiently loving or think that there are no areas of his life that he could increase in with regard to his love. Let us all pray that our love may abound yet more and more as well.
 
THOUGHT: In what ways can I grow in love?
PRAYER: “This is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!”

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