And this I pray, that your love may overflow still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may discover the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and blameless for the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, for the glory and praise of God.

When was the last time you had a fight with someone because you were trying to prove a point? Many arguments center around our desire to be right and do not bring out the best in us. We go to great lengths to make our case and insist on our way. Paul’s words here put two principles side by side that we often don’t see paired in our world. Paul’s prayer for the Philippian church was for them to grow in both love and in knowledge. Love, knowledge, and discernment are keys to approving excellence and pursuing what is truly good. One of these does not come at the expense of the other.

Ultimately, our greatest goal as a Christian is not to be right but to reflect Christ. As we grow in Him, we grow in love, knowledge, and discernment. This growth in us will not be complete until Jesus returns. Until then, we are called to pursue continual growth in the knowledge of Him and His love. With each passing day, we are to surrender our ways and preferences to allow Christ to transform us to look more like Him in what we know, how we love, and what we discern throughout our days. This is the most fulfilling way to live and will bring about more fruit in our lives than we could ever cultivate on our own.

• What are some areas you take pride in knowing a lot? When have you sacrificed love, seeking to prove your knowledge?
• What does it look like grow in knowledge and love together? Who has modeled this for you?
• Pray and confess to God where you have insisted on your own way over growing in His love and knowledge.