January 2, 2017 – Philippians 1:9-10

I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.  For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. Philippians 1:9-10.

The more we love, the more capacity we have to love!  How do we fuel this kind of love, to love the unlovable?  The more we know about Jesus and how He loves, the more we can love like Jesus. We love each other because He loved us first. I John 4:19.  I John 4:17 says, We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love.  God is love, and all who live in love – live in God, and God lives in them.

The fruit of our salvation ripens.  It is not an instant ripening, it is a constant growth of righteousness in Christ Jesus.  What makes the Love of Jesus so strong? Forgiveness – the promise of His Forgiveness.  His Love is always the same.  We can trust His Love.  

In our relationship with others, do we love and forgive, are we trustworthy? Turning our love off through anger and withholding forgiveness is not the way of Jesus Christ.  Why should we humble ourselves and forgive others?  Why should we love like Jesus? Only one reason! This is why Jesus died on the cross!  Loving, forgiving, and trusting brings glory and praise to God our Father, through Jesus Christ!

Is it important that we choose to love others? But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit.  Galatians 6:8b.

May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.  Philippians 1:11