Philippians 1:8-9
"For my witness is God, how I yearn for all of you with the deepest affections of Christ Jesus, and this I pray, that your love may increase more and more in deeper knowledge and all perception."
Paul is describing a love like no other.
The word we often translate, "affections" is "splaixnees", really translated bowels or guts. This is a feeling that is at the very core of a man, actually Jesus Christ. Have you ever had a gut feeling? Ever been so nervous that your stomach churns? Does your heart beat faster when you see the one you love?
This is how Paul describes his desire for the Philippian church - the guts of Jesus Christ.
And this is his prayer for them, "that [their] love may increase more and more in deeper knowledge and all perception..."
Interesting, that Paul would describe love as that which grows through the mind (knowledge) and the emotions (perception).
That our love for each other would grow to the point of Christ's inner affections!
So how does your mind work to increase your love for your church? your neighbor? your Savior?
Paul is describing a love like no other.
The word we often translate, "affections" is "splaixnees", really translated bowels or guts. This is a feeling that is at the very core of a man, actually Jesus Christ. Have you ever had a gut feeling? Ever been so nervous that your stomach churns? Does your heart beat faster when you see the one you love?
This is how Paul describes his desire for the Philippian church - the guts of Jesus Christ.
And this is his prayer for them, "that [their] love may increase more and more in deeper knowledge and all perception..."
Interesting, that Paul would describe love as that which grows through the mind (knowledge) and the emotions (perception).
That our love for each other would grow to the point of Christ's inner affections!
So how does your mind work to increase your love for your church? your neighbor? your Savior?
It is still amazing to me how a simple phrase of introduction can contain so much. By simply hitting on growing in knowledge and affection I believe Paul hits upon the essence of what we are called to do as Christians. We are called to a loving relationship with God. Paul explains briefly in his letter how that relationship actually grows.
I believe the knowledge Paul refers to is knowledge of God. If I were to desire growth in a relationship I would seek to know that other person. That knowledge becomes complex and multi faceted the more it grows. That knowledge becomes an adventure into the mystery of who the other person is. Inviting the Philippians to increase their knowledge of God is inviting them to know God intimately.
Then there is affection, knowledge of someone is still, potentially cold and detached. I can study a person, understand their habits and even their motivations and desires, but without any mutual affection there would be no relationship. It is the growth of affection that draws us in and captivates us in a relationship. It is the magnetic attraction. Essentially from our knowledge of another we have determined what we have found to be compelling and we are drawn in. As our affection grows in a relationship so does our knowledge in a completely new dimension, experience. The two together, knowledge and affection grow each other in a relationship and Paul has just given us the two essential elements in a loving relationship.
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