APRIL 4, 2025 – SENSITIVITY

READ: Col. 1:9-14
And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent … – Phil. 1:9-10a

After thanksgiving comes intercession. This is not in contrast with the preceding section. Paul now shows in what ways the Philippians still need to grow (compare v.7). Paul continuously prays that God will grant them an increase in faith and love.

Is there a specific reason for this? Later in the letter, Paul warns against division (2:2; 4:2), selfishness (2:3), and insufficient care for one another (2:4). He also warns against false teachers (3:2) and mentions that some are living a worldly lifestyle (3:18-19). For this reason, Paul prays for growth in true, self-giving love, the kind of love in which Christ has gone before them.

This love is already present among them but must continue to increase (overflow more and more) and be put into action in all things (see also 1 Thess. 4:9-10). LD 44 of the Heidelberg Catechism puts it this way: “While praying to God for the grace of the Holy Spirit we may never stop striving to be renewed more and more after God’s image, until after this life we reach the goal of perfection.”

Paul elaborates on this growth in love: “in knowledge and all discernment.” Here, knowledge primarily refers to faith-knowledge—the communion with Christ through His Word and with all who belong to Him in the fellowship of believers. This knowledge involves knowing and accepting God’s Word, but it does not stop there. Ultimately, it is about the bond with Christ and His church.

With knowledge comes love as a conscious, intentional act. Along with knowledge, Paul also mentions sensitivity and discernment. These arise from love’s knowledge.

If you have come to know Christ, you will want to live differently (Eph. 4:22); you will want to distinguish good from evil and refrain from wrongdoing. This requires the right attitude of love, combined with effort and evaluation.

How can you develop good discernment?                                       

Sing: Ps. 119:28