In a world filled with slogans about love—“Love is love,” “Choose love,” and “Love wins”—it’s easy to get caught up in vague, feel-good notions of what love should be. But what does real love look like? The Bible offers a radically different perspective, one that challenges us to love with purpose, wisdom, and depth. Paul’s prayer for the Philippians cuts to the heart of this kind of love: “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment” (Philippians 1:9, NASB).
True love, according to Scripture, isn’t just a warm feeling or a passive acceptance; it’s active, intentional, and grounded in truth. It’s a love that seeks God first, holds fast to what’s right, and reaches out to others—even those we find difficult to love. As Christians, we are called to love beyond ourselves, reflecting the love of Christ in every part of our lives. So, let’s explore what it means to love with knowledge and discernment, embracing the profound and often challenging objects of our love that God has outlined for us.
1. Love God
The foundation of all Christian love begins with our love for God. Jesus taught, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37, NASB). It is easy to love those who love us, but the call to love God surpasses simple reciprocation. We love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19), and our love for Him is demonstrated by our obedience: “For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome” (1 John 5:3, NASB).
2. Love Christ
Our love for Christ requires a commitment beyond that for any earthly relationship. Jesus declared, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37, NASB). If we claim to love Christ, we must place Him above all else, honoring Him with both our words and our actions. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15, NASB). This love is not partial; it is a complete surrender to His will.
3. Love the Church
To love Christ is also to love His body, the Church. Paul reminded the Ephesians of Christ’s love for the Church: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25, NASB). True love for the Church means engaging in worship, fellowship, and service, often sacrificing our own desires for the benefit of others. It’s a commitment to participate actively, support faithfully, and serve joyfully.
4. Love the Truth
Loving God also means loving His truth. In a world of relative truths, God calls us to cling to His Word, the ultimate standard of truth. Paul wrote, “because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved” (2 Thessalonians 2:10, NASB). When we love the truth, we seek it, study it, defend it, and live it. Jude exhorts us to “contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints” (Jude 1:3, NASB). A love for truth means actively resisting the falsehoods that distort the gospel.
5. Love One Another
The love Christ commands us to have for one another is more than kindness; it is a deep, sacrificial love that seeks the best for others. Jesus told His disciples, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you” (John 13:34, NASB). This love unites believers and becomes a testimony to the world, showcasing God’s love through our actions. As Proverbs says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity” (Proverbs 17:17, NASB).
6. Love the Lost
Lastly, we are called to love those who are lost. This love reflects the heart of God, who “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:4, NASB). Proverbs reminds us, “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life, and he who is wise wins souls” (Proverbs 11:30, NASB). Love for the lost compels us to share the gospel, to pray for their salvation, and to be a light in a dark world. Paul exemplified this love when he wrote, “Brethren, if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness” (Galatians 6:1, NASB).
Conclusion
As followers of Christ, we are called to love in profound and transformative ways. This love is not about feeling good or fitting in; it’s about obedience, sacrifice, and truth. Paul’s prayer for the Philippians—that their love would abound with knowledge and discernment—applies to us today. May we grow in love for God, for Christ, for the Church, for the truth, for each other, and for the lost. Only then can we truly reflect the love of God to a world in desperate need.
The Simple Gospel 