Philippians 1:9-11

And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.

I am encouraged by Philippians, because Paul here so closely links Christian love and knowledge. Unfortunately, one can find far too many examples of shallow, unthinking “TV Pastors” who invite the distain of persons both young and old. Paul does not encourage an anti-intellectual mindset.

The above excerpt is one of his strongest statements that we should use our minds to study and think about the faith for ourselves to “determine what really matters.” It is no accident that the word “mind” appears seven times in the Philippians letter.

I take encouragement from this word of Paul’s that I do not have to park my mind at the door of the church as I prepare for the advent of Jesus, the Messiah.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, may we continue to do the hard thinking to connect love and knowledge that will help us to become better followers of Your way. Amen.

- Ed Colquhoun