A prayer for spiritual maturity

READ: Jeremiah 5,6; Psalms 98; Philippians 1

SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1: 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,
10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

OBSERVATION: In Philippians 1, we see another prison prayer of  Paul. Here, Paul prays for his readers’ spiritual maturity, growth, and health in his profound and insightful prayer. We often hear prayers for prosperity and financial blessings that a Christian may abound more and more in material blessings. We must see the intent of such prayers in the light of the scripture. But Paul prays for the believers that they may abound in love. It does not mean that they have no love in them. Growing and abounding in love is an essential component of our spiritual well-being. Those who neglect to nurture and grow in love eventually lose it. Some Christians may wonder why they couldn’t love the Lord as they did before. “You have forsaken the love you had at first” was the charge against the Church in Ephesus (Rev.2:4). Paul prays that the love may grow in knowledge and depth of insight. We should be aware that Christian love is not a feeling or something based on emotions or sentimental. It is reasoned love and seasoned by the Word of God.

In verses 10 and 11, Paul tells us of the purpose and use of abounding love. We Christians should be able to discern and seek excellence in everything. Further, Paul reminds us of keeping ourselves pure and blameless. Growing in love would help to achieve them. Not only that, love leads us to be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. Love is the mark of a disciple of Christ; it helps to obey his great commandment of love (Jn.13:34-35;14:15, 23-24). Finally, when we grow in love, it glorifies God. As we remain in Christ, we grow in love and bear much fruit “to the glory and praise of God.”

APPLICATION: Apostle John says, “Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 Jn.4:8). “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing” (1 Cor.13:2). Through Holy Spirit, God’s love has been poured out into my heart. As I grow in the Lord, I must grow in love more and more. Love prompts me to offer my best to the glory and praise of God in everything.

PRAYER: Loving Father, thank you for your liberating love. Lord, increase my love for you and be a mature Christian who loves others. Jesus, help me walk in the way of love and reap the harvest of righteousness for your glory. Amen.

- Arputharaj Samuel
+91 9538328573

Day - 280