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In this passage from Paul to the church in Philippi, Paul encouraged the church and leaders in the community to grow in love. By growing in love, they might learn how to better discern and determine what the best thing to do might be for themselves and their people. Remember, while they may have had access to the Hebrew Scriptures or may have seen some of Paul’s previous letters, they didn’t have the Bible as we know it today. Even with those things available, Paul wasn’t telling them to simply read them to grow in knowledge or help them discern what was best. He said that God’s love is what would do that. In other words, the Scripture in and of itself doesn’t make us like Jesus. It doesn’t grow our knowledge or righteousness. It’s the love of God that we find in these things that does all that and more. The Bible can aid us in growing in the knowledge of who God is and how God calls us to live, and that can inspire us to grow in God’s love, too. It’s a great example of how love and knowledge can work hand in hand throughout the pages of Scripture and our lives.

This week, take time to memorize this passage. Use it as a prayer, asking God to help you grow in both love and knowledge as you continue walking in faith.