“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment.”
—Philippians 1:9

Reflection

The angels around the throne of God cry out day and night, “Kadosh, kadosh, kadosh,” which is Hebrew for “Holy, holy, holy” (Isaiah 6; Revelation 4). Each time they experience another wave of God’s glory, it takes their breath away, so to speak, and they have to cry, “Holy,” yet again.

They never stop experiencing more of God because He is inexhaustible. That’s what our lives are going to be like when we’re with Father in heaven. For the rest of eternity, we’re going to be constantly experiencing the more of God.

As we look at Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1, we discover something important about the more that Father desires for you and me.

Paul begins, “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more” (v. 9). Notice the “more and more” in this prayer. What is Paul requesting that we have more and more of? Love!

I came to faith in 1978, and the longer I walk with Yeshua, the more I realize that love really is the final aim. The Bible says everything is going to fade away except faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love (1 Corinthians 13:13).

There is just no way around it. If we want to become more like Yeshua and walk in His Spirit, we must grow in love.

When we’re young in the faith, we’re often so zealous about every single doctrine. We fight about eternal security, whether everyone should speak in tongues, whether to be baptized by immersion or sprinkling, and so many other things.

Doctrine is important. Truth is important. But sometimes we can be more focused on doctrine than we are on love, and love is the goal.

Paul wrote that even if he had the gift of prophecy, understood all mysteries, possessed all knowledge, and had faith enough to move mountains, without love he would be nothing (1 Corinthians 13:2).

We absolutely must have sound doctrine. We must adhere to what the Bible teaches. But the most important area to grow in God’s Spirit, and the most important thing to focus on, is love. God’s Word says, “The goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5).

Jesus said, “Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).

This simple but profound verse teaches that love involves sacrifice. Love involves dying to our own will. It involves dying to our flesh and putting someone else’s needs above our own.

Beloved, let’s think for a minute about our own lives and consider our closest relationships. Are we dying to self in order to grow in love in those relationships? Are we putting our loved ones’ needs above our own? Are we purposing to walk in peace and unity with those whom we are closest to?

I encourage you to pray that your love will abound still more and more. This is what Father desires for you, and as you grow in His love, you will become more like Yeshua.

Application

• Pray Paul’s prayer in Philippians 1:9 over your life, asking Father to cause your love to abound more and more.
• Consider your closest relationships. Look for opportunities to die to your own will, put someone else’s needs above your own, and walk in peace and unity.

Prayer

Father God, I ask You to cause my love to abound still more and more. Thank You that there is always more of You to experience and more room for me to grow in Your Spirit. Help me to value sound doctrine and truth while remembering that love is the final aim. Teach me to die to my own will and put the needs of others above my own. Let Your love grow in my closest relationships so that I become more like Yeshua. In Jesus’ name, amen.