Day 46: Philippians 1:9-11

“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”



We don’t think much about the word “love,” probably because we use it in so many ways. You love cheeseburgers, you love this movie, you love (fill in the blank). We’ve kind of lost the meaning of love in all the usage of it. At the very least, we have perverted it’s meaning and lost the real power behind the term.


Look closely at this passage from Philippians and see the power behind God’s love: through love, when coupled with knowledge and discernment, you can see what is excellent, and bear fruit for the kingdom of God. Now that’s a powerful love.


So what does one have to do with the other? What does love have to do with approving what is excellent? Our answer is best illustrated by the opposite of love: selfishness.


When we are selfish, we approve of the things that benefit us. We don’t bear fruit for the Kingdom of God when we are concerned with ourselves, nor can we be pure and blameless when we are thinking only of ourselves.


Love, the kind of love that we learn from Christ’s love for us, is so powerful that it overcomes our selfishness. True love puts self last, and thinks of everyone else first. With that attitude, it’s easy to see what’s right, instead of easy; beneficial to others, rather than beneficial to us; and what advances God’s kingdom, rather than our kingdom.


Love has this power, and it’s a tremendous power. It’s a world-changing power. It’s a power that only comes from God.


By this power we can see what is best, and take the right path that God has laid in front of us.


CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE: A Christian leader loves supremely. They love God and others in such a way that self is lost, and they can see what God approves and the path they should take.


Here’s a set of verses to meditate on today: Acts 26


Prayer: Father, consume me with Your love. Rid me of myself, and replace me with You. Amen.