Paul

knew how to pack a lot into a little. In just three verses today we

find deep insight. Yes, Paul is thankful for the Philip­pians,

but thanksgiving is not his only prayer. He also wants their love to

abound. But not in some sentimental, greeting-card kind of way.

For

the Christian, love is more than sentiment. It also involves depth of

insight, discernment, and the ability to figure out what is best in a

given situation. It prompts us to ask, “What will help me be the

most transparent to Jesus when I encounter this or that situation?”

We

don’t typically associate love with a furrowed brow as we figure

out the most fitting way to act. But Christlike love involves exactly

that kind of thoughtfulness. The goal is to produce spiritual fruit

that reflects Jesus and also points ­others in his direction.

When

we read in John 3:16 that God “so loved the world,” we know that

God’s plan of salvation was behind that divine love. Yes, such love

did involve warmth and ardor, but God’s working out of our

salvation required a lot of holy discernment too. Do we think it was

easy to solve our sin problem? It cost the life of God’s only Son!

As

we are called to love, we are also called to the God-like activity of

fruitful hard thinking so that in all things we will bring glory to

God in Christ.