Discerning Love

 From my Journal  (11/27/2020)

Spending some time in the Word and with God this morning. Reading 1 Thessalonians, Colossians, and Philippians. This verse stood out:

And this is my prayer! That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Philippians 1:9-11

To me, that passage says that the more we ask questions and grow in our knowledge of Christ, the more we dig into the Word, the more we will have an abounding love. I also love the word "discern"--having discernment is to show "good or outstanding judgment and understanding." The Bible may not always be explicitly clear and there are so many messages, but the more we stay within Christ, abide in Him--we will grow in love, discernment, insight, and knowledge. Develop insight and using discernment leads me to an uninhibited belief that Jesus truly loves us. This is why I do believe that black lives matter, why I do believe He gives everlasting grace, why I believe that His heart is one of justice, mercy, truth, and grace. And calls His followers to do the same. 

And Philippians 1:27a: Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ

And this: ...Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me--put it into practice." Philippians 4:8-9

What a reminder of strong encouragement of how to align ourselves with the one true, holy God. How to be holy, set apart from others, in a God-honoring way. Love, love, love, love. Love justly, love mercifully, love with plentiful grace.