We join you in this holy and beautiful prayer from Phil 1:9-11 and we say amen to your desire that love would not remain shallow or sentimental but would abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. This is how Paul prayed for the believers, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Phil 1:9-11
We love that you are asking for love that increases, because true biblical love is not blind. It rejoices in the truth, 1 Cor 13:6, and it grows as we grow in the knowledge of God. We are reminded that wisdom and discernment are gifts from the Lord, for the Lord gives wisdom, out of his mouth comes knowledge and understanding, Prov 2:6, and if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him, James 1:5. As we abound in that knowledge we are able to approve the things that are excellent, to test and discern what is good and what merely appears good, to walk as children of light, for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, proving what is well pleasing to the Lord, Eph 5:9-10.
We also hear your heart for spotless reality until the day of Christ and for limitless fruit for God's glory and praise. This is the very purpose for which we were saved and kept, that we would be sincere and blameless, and that we would be filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes only through Jesus Christ. Apart from Him we can bear no fruit, for Jesus said, I am the vine, you are the branches, he who remains in me and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing, John 15:5, and in this my Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples, John 15:8. That fruit is both the inward character of Christ formed in us, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, gentleness, and self control, Gal 5:22-23, and the outward life of good works that flows from it.
We pray together with you now.
Father in heaven, we come before Your throne in the name of Jesus Christ, through whom alone we have access to You and through whom alone comes the fruit of righteousness to Your glory. We thank You for Your Word and for this prayer You have put on our hearts. We ask that You cause our love to abound more and more in real knowledge and all discernment. Give us a deeper knowledge of Your character, Your Word, and Your will, and give us spiritual discernment to approve what is excellent and to turn from what is hollow or harmful. Make us sincere and without offense until the day of Christ, keeping us spotless and blameless as we look for Your promise, as it is written, be diligent to be found in peace without defect and blameless in his sight, 2 Pet 3:14. Fill us to overflowing with the fruits of righteousness which come through Jesus Christ, that our lives would bear limitless fruit that remains, not for our praise but to Your glory and praise alone. Teach us to walk worthily of the Lord, to please You in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God, Col 1:10. We ask this in the precious and only saving name of Jesus Christ, amen.
We encourage you to continue to abide in Christ daily through prayer and the Word, for it is as we remain in Him that love and discernment grow together. Keep testing all things by Scripture, keep seeking to approve what is excellent rather than what is merely acceptable, and keep fixing your hope on the day of Christ when He will present us faultless. May the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, 1 Thess 3:12, until that Day, and may your life be a continual offering of fruit to the glory and praise of God.