“And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ” – Philippians 1:9-10
Christian life is meant to be a journey of growth every day from the moment of our salvation to the day we pass into glory. A Christian never gets to say “I’ve arrived”, “I’m good enough”, or “Now I can focus on something else for awhile”. We’re meant to grow and grow in the character of Jesus Christ.
While we’re saved and united with Christ the moment we put our faith in Jesus, our spiritual formation has just begun. Thus Paul writes to Christians of his prayer for continual growth in love and passion for God, Christ, and each other.
Love is the defining quality of the Christian life (at least it should be) and we must be growing in it. However, it’s helpful to note that our love is not in isolation, which could result in loving a Christ of our own imagination. Our growth in love must come with growth in knowledge and discernment. We must grow in our knowledge of God as we love Him more (and we will love Him more as we grow in our knowledge of Him!). We grow in our knowledge and love of Him through regular prayer every day and throughout the day. It’s hard to love someone we don’t talk to! We must come to know the Lord personally through our quiet times of prayer and listening and also through our times of public worship.
However, we must also come to know Him through daily time invested in reading, studying, and meditating on His Word, the Bible. He has revealed Himself to us and much of our growth in knowledge and discernment comes as we let His Word soak into our souls. By His Spirit, by His Word, and by His presence God reshapes our character, sometimes gradually and sometimes suddenly, purifying our hearts and lives as He prepares us for the day of Christ. That doesn’t happen by accident – it comes through diligent effort to grow in knowledge, discernment, and love. Friends, we all have work to do!