Real Knowledge and All Discernment

Phil 1:9

And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment,
: 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

Paul prayed for love to abound more and more in real knowledge and discernment so that we could approve the things that are excellent and be found sincere and blameless.

This was brought to my attention: that it is important to know love in such a way as the outcome is sincere and blameless as verse 10 states.

So we must learn to love with real knowledge. Real “knowledge of doctrinal and practical truth” according to one commentary online. But also knowing Your word and knowing You Father, is vital in discerning truth.
Knowing You in the sense that we live every moment in fellowship with you, hearing You, receiving Your love, obeying Your Spirit’s prompting. This brings forth true spiritual discernment.

Approving what is excellent takes this discernment. The Message in verse: 10 says “so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not in sentimental gush”.
I like that. That seemed to clarify for me what Paul is saying. Because we can “love” out of sentimentality which would not necessarily mean we have discernment in that love.
Discernment meaning depth of insight, understanding, and judgment. Seeing things as they really are or seeing into the “love” and discerning its true character and motives.

What we might call “love” can have selfish or carnal motives as its foundation. As believers we are called to a higher love, to the kind of sacrificial love that Jesus Christ demonstrated toward us at the Cross. A no matter what kind of love.

Thinking of this makes me realize the importance of growing in this knowledge, not only of Your Word, but in our relationship with You, Father. And spiritual discernment will enable us to see our true heart as well as the heart of others. Thus we will better be able to be sincere (pure in heart) and without fault in those works that You created us to do while we remain on this earth.

I am so thankful that You Who began a good work in me, will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil 1:6)

Your Love Stretches

Your love stretches me Father.
You say in 1 Cor 14:1 to pursue love. Not to just sit and let life bring it to me when it will but to pursue it. By Your grace, You enable my heart to allow You to teach me how Your arms are stretched out to all You have created, even to those who deny You.
The stretching reminds me of reaching out, gathering in , encompassing all that it can. I am in awe of it.
The various translations have different ways of saying we are to pursue love.
Follow the way of love...make love your aim...Hotly pursue this love...make love your great quest...seek this love earnestly.

No matter what, Your love remains constant.
When everything is washed away, it remains.
It is an amazing thing to this heart of mine.
How far are your arms stretched out, Father?
Do they ever tire of our human failings, our very human ways,
When we have the Spirit of Life within us,
Yet we constantly revert to our natural life?

It seems no human words can totally express the breadth, length, width, height and depth of it.
Yet we are encouraged and assured by Paul in Eph 3:17-18 to be rooted and grounded in Your love so that we may be able to apprehend and grasp the experience of it in our lives.

Yes, Your are more than willing to teach us about the Cross, which is the perfect expression of Your love for us. There are many inspired songs and writings about this love but You use simple words to express it best..."For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son..."(John 3:16).

Love gives. And You gave Your Son for me.