Advent is practicing Christian love grounded in knowledge and spiritual sensitivity till the day of Christ
Advent II.
Philippians 1:3-11 “ Practicing Christian love grounded in knowledge and
spiritual sensitivity till the day of Christ ( Advent)”
In this letter the Apostle discusses we are to love “
more and more” and how we are to speak the truth and what that consists of in
the spirit of Advent, that is the coming of Christ---“ that ye may be pure and
without offence for the day of Christ” 1:10
These things are a part of our sanctification, that is getting closer to
the holiness God requires of those who would profess in their Christian
profession. This week I read in the
morning from Thessalonians where we spoke last week of Paul’s prayer for
advent, “ For this is the will of God , even your sanctification.” 4:1
We are to love
as the Apostle shares in the writing to the Philippians. He says “ I yearn for you all in the
affection of Jesus Christ” 1: 8 (ESV)
This is our first duty after loving God.
We say in the Holy Communion service each month: “ Hear what our Lord
Jesus Christ saith: Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and
with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.
This is the first and great commandment.
And the second is like unto it: Thou shalt love thy neighbor as
thyself..” Matthew 22:37
But this love
must abound he says. “ Your love must
abound in knowledge and all
intelligence, for to approve the things that are excellent, that you may be
pure and without offence for the day of Christ…” 1:9 I recall that humorous insurance commercial
when Mr. Lincoln is asked by his wife, Mary Todd, “ How do I look in this
dress?” Lincoln
These two words
in vs. 9 tell us about love . Love is
not a feeling only. It must be
undergirded with “ knowledge” and all “ discernment.” ESV ( “ to approve the
things that are excellent) I want to ask
what Paul is saying here for us because we know the first thing we think of is
not always love . Sometimes when we say
things they are misconstrued . But we
must say things to others in a way that is loving. Love does not mean we ignore problems . If I have a stain on my shirt, I would hope
you would say something. But saying, “
boy did you not look at your shirt before you came out of the house “is rather
thoughtless and somewhat blunt.
I came across
this “ A Disciple’s Prayer “ in Quiet Moments with Benedict Groeschel:
“ O Lord Jesus
Christ, Savior and Redeemer, show me the real way to be your follower. Give me
the wisdom and humility to learn from your words and from the church which you
left after raising up disciples in your own time. By your example and by your Holy Spirit,
deliver me from following my own way, from constructing the image of you that
suits my own needs and desires. Each of
my inner inclinations can seduce me to construct my own image of you: my anger,
cupidity, self-indulgence, arrogance, self-justification and sense of
self-importance. Like the apostles, I
can have my own ideas of how you save the world---but with my help, of
course. Break my pride by your humanity,
unmask my selfishness and innate paganism by your providential gifts that impel
me to true conversion and humiliation.
If necessary, let the knife cut deeply and let me not cringe back in
cowardice. Let me know the true joy of
your real presence; let me experience even in the dark time, the saving
strength of your cross; let me be a source of your gracious assistance to those
whom I meet along the way.”
“ I pray your love
may more and more abound in knowledge”
This “ word generally conveys the idea of a mental grasp of spiritual
truth, but the biblical sense of knowing God in an intimacy made possible
through His self-disclosure and received by faith is the main thought….A better
knowledge of God and His ways will promote greater harmony within the
fellowship, and give the Philippians a clearer understanding of their mutual
relationship as fellow-believers.” R.P. Martin in his Philippians. So there is a place in the Christian life for
knowledge of God. We call this theology
if you will or doctrine. There are
things to know about God revealed to us in His Word.
“ I pray your love
may more and more abound in knowledge and all discernment so that you may
approve what is excellent and be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.”
ESV What does little word mean that is
translated in so many different ways ?
The AV translates it judgment. It
means perception or discrimination or even tact. “ It is the employment of the faculty which
makes a person able to make a moral decision.” R. P. Martin . In the OT it is
translated as wisdom . “ Let your reasonableness (gentleness) be known to
all men” 4:5 There were difficulties
that lead to disunity and fault-finding in the community Paul wrote to . Here he addresses it. The first word out of the mouth may not be
tactful or wholesome. But it should be
that our love may abound more and more.
In this Advent
season we have a time to prepare to grow in holiness that we may be more ready
and sanctified to receive Christ in his birth at Christmas. It is a special time of year that allows us
to say we need this quiet time to grow in our spiritual love, knowledge and wisdom. May our God direct us all to true spiritual
love and holiness for the day of Christ.
“ O God of love, O Giver of concord, who through thine
only-begotten Son, hast given us a new commandment that we should love one
another, even as thou didst love us, the unworthy and the wandering , and
gavest thy beloved Son for our life and salvation; we pray thee, Lord, give to
us thy servants in all time of our life on earth, a mind forgetful of past
ill-will, a pure conscience, sincere thoughts, and a heart to love our
brethren; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.” A Free Church Book of Common Prayer, 1929.
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