Devotion
Love That Grows Wiser
“...that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior.”
Philippians 1:9-10
When Paul prays for the people he loves, he doesn't pray for their circumstances. He prays for their character.
Most of our prayers for people are about health, jobs, and travel safety. Paul prays for love that keeps growing, and for a love with eyes. "Approve the things that are superior" uses a word for testing coins to see if they're genuine, and the phrase means "the things that really matter." Here is the honest truth it names: most of our decisions are not between good and evil. They're between good and best. Only a love that is growing wiser can tell the difference — in our schedules, our spending, our yeses and nos.
Practice
Look at your calendar and your bank account this week. Both tell the truth about what you love. Find one "good" thing crowding out a "best" thing and change it: decline one commitment, protect one family dinner, or trade one hour of scrolling for one hour with people or Scripture.
Prayer
Holy Spirit, teach my love to see. I don't want to spend my one life on merely good things while the best things wait. Give me wisdom to test what's in front of me and courage to choose what really matters. Amen.
This Week’s Message
This devotion follows along with this week’s message.