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

Reflection

What our culture thinks is love is often deceptive. False love is powerful. It feels like love but is rooted in selfish interest, sensuality, or both. If our so-called love is focused on someone because that person makes us feel good or can do something for us, it is not agape, or real love.

This is why Paul prayed that our love would abound in real knowledge and all discernment. Similarly, James describes two types of wisdom. There is wisdom that is pure, godly, full of light, and beautiful. But there is another type of wisdom that is demonic (James 3:13–18).

In order for our love to grow, we need real knowledge and discernment. Real knowledge is not having insight into somebody’s life in order to accuse them. That’s not real discernment; that’s the spirit of the accuser of the brethren, Satan. God is love, and if the knowledge someone receives causes them to accuse instead of love, it’s not from God.

The enemy’s false knowledge makes us aware of a person’s weakness, vulnerability, and sin, but real knowledge allows us to look past their sin, have compassion on them, and understand why they do some of the things they do. People do sinful things, but we have to be able to look beyond their sin to see their need and love them.

Consider a woman caught in prostitution. Rather than simply seeing her sin, Father sees a woman who may have grown up without a father to affirm her or anyone to tell her she had dignity. She may never have had someone to help her develop healthy self-esteem and self-respect. Because of His love, the Lord sees beyond the sinful act and into her heart. He loves her despite her sin.

Over the years, I have seen how the enemy uses false knowledge and false discernment to bring accusation and create division among believers. We need to guard our hearts against the enemy, who is called the accuser of the brethren in Revelation 12:10.

When someone hurts us or when we feel threatened, jealous, or envious of someone, we need to be especially vigilant. Sometimes people claim their actions are out of love or discernment without recognizing that they are being fueled by their own hurt and pride. They begin spreading accusations and believe they are doing God’s work. That is not real discernment.

Real knowledge and discernment produce love.

People with real discernment practice self-discipline by stopping before responding in pride or anger. They recognize the enemy’s influence and reject it. They come into agreement with the love of God that covers a multitude of sins and strive to forgive, overcome evil with good, and speak blessing instead of insults.

Beloved, this is how we learn to follow Jesus’ way instead of being tossed here and there by our emotions and circumstances. Real discernment causes us to walk in love as Yeshua did because we want to be like Him.

Application

• When someone hurts you, stop before responding in pride or anger. Ask whether your response is rooted in God’s love or in your own wounded emotions.
• Practice real discernment by looking beyond another person’s faults to recognize their needs. Strive to forgive and speak blessing instead of insults.

Prayer

Father God, I ask that my love would abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. Guard my heart against false knowledge that leads to accusation and division. When someone hurts me, help me stop before responding in pride or anger. Teach me to look beyond people’s sins, recognize their needs, and overcome evil with good. I want to walk in love as Yeshua did because I want to be like Him. Amen.