Love

Took this picture on the way up to beautiful Colorado - Almost put it on Charissa's page, but it seemed to confuse things to put my fun landscape photo on my page about her... Life does get intermingled, though, doesn't it?

Anyway, that's not at all what this is about. Was reading Philippians this morning - one of my favority books. Paul had a special relationship with the Philippians, one of joy and partnership, so when he says, "this is my prayer for you", my ears perked up. "This is my prayer: That your LOVE may abound more and more in KNOWLEDGE and DEPTH OF INSIGHT..." (1:9)

It seems that the church today gets so caught up in the first or second half of the verse - it's almost like an either/or. Our priority of LOVE or TRUTH (Knowledge & depth of insight), but God's call is to make it a marriage of both. What a fine tuned balance we must walk! But check out the next verse: "SO THAT you may be able to DISCERN what is best and be PURE and BLAMELESS... filled with the fruit of righteousness"

How many of us clamor after God - to know His will/plan for our lives - for our ministry - for our family - for ... (fill in the blank). We say we want to be righteous, to live in PURITY... but do we do what it requires? Rather than chasing after the fruit, God tells us to obey... to pursue love (not the fluffy love at all costs regardless of truth) but true LOVE in knowledge and depth of insight and the fruit in our lives will be discernment, purity and righteousness.

"Put first things first and second things will follow. Put second things first and you will lose both first and second things" -C.S. Lewis Just another take on "But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." (Matthew 6:33)