Paul’s prayer for the church in Philippi was that their love would “abound more and more,” and he taught them how such abundant love could be their own. Paul said that “with knowledge and all discernment” we would be able to choose what is “excellent.” 

The more we know God and seek his wisdom, the more we are filled with his perspective and his discernment. Paul was teaching the Phillipian church that to truly love others we need to love them as God loves them. Our love for others and our actions toward them can be “excellent” when we are filled with the love of God. 

If we want to obey the command of Christ to “love one another,” we will need to pray for the knowledge and discernment of God. We cannot love others like God unless we have the wisdom of God to see others, and ourselves, with his discernment. 

Loving others is God’s standard of excellence for his children. When we seek God’s wisdom, we will aim at his high standards. Loving others well is Christian excellence because that choice will help us to be pure and blameless on that day when we meet Christ face-to-face. 

The Lord gives wisdom, knowledge, and understanding so that we can see others from his perspective. He is the source for the love we need and the love we need to have for others. God’s standards are high and holy because that is the excellent life God wants for us, his children.