Let Your Love Speak with Wisdom
by Britt Mooney
TONIGHT’S SCRIPTURE
"And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight." - Philippians 1:9
SOMETHING TO PONDER
A type of video periodically makes the rounds on social media. Someone places Mentos mints in a bottle of cola, and an explosion happens. Bubbles and liquid erupt from the bottle, sometimes as a prank or an experiment.
God’s love can’t be contained. By nature, it must flow to others. However, like every aspect of God’s character, it doesn’t exist alone. God’s love isn’t separate from his wisdom or his truth. Truth transforms, but sharing God’s Word apart from his love divorces it from meaning, becoming more abusive than life-giving. For God’s love to be explosive in our lives, it must remain connected to the whole—his peace, his joy, and the rest.
As followers of Jesus, he disciples us for a purpose. First, to be more like him, the Son of the Father. Second, as such, Christ teaches us how to rule and reign in the current and future Kingdom of God. We are his children, and this is our inheritance.
So love abounds in knowledge and insight. The Greek word for knowledge here is epignōsis, which refers to experiential knowledge. “Depth of insight” is aisthēsis, a word rare in the New Testament, but it means sensitive perception for moral understanding and wisdom. God’s love through us to others abounds when we experience the Father more and apply insight from the Spirit in our words and actions. Beholding God, seeing him as he is, that intimate experience leads to greater spiritual understanding, which we share in love. In other words, our love isn’t being “nice.” God’s love expresses truth for the transformation of others, not to win an argument or gain followers on social media. Love seeks the eternal best of all, and speaking the truth in love is explosive in its impact, like Jesus’ words to the woman at the well. May we behold him and learn to do the same.
YOUR NIGHTLY PRAYER
Heavenly Father,
Ignite your love in me like a fire. Let it erupt through me with truth, peace, and wisdom, not for a performance but to bless and transform others. Teach me to behold and experience you every day, to know you deeply, and listen to the Spirit for real insight. Change my heart to love with wisdom, to speak truth that heals and doesn’t wound. Make my love sincere like your character, reflecting you to all I encounter.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
THREE THINGS TO MEDITATE UPON
1. Have you ever seen something overflow a bottle or a pot? What was your reaction?
2. How does God share his truth with you in love? How does it not wound you but build you up?
3. How can you speak truth in love to others? To heal and encourage transformation, not to put down or win an argument?
Photo Credit: ©Unsplash/ Andrew Neel
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