Philippians 1:7-11

“And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what is best, so that on the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless…” vss. 9-10

People of faith generally have disdain for “self-improvement” books. They understand that such materials claim that we have within ourselves the capacity to correct deficiencies and eliminate addictions. All we need to do, as one author puts it, is “think and grow rich.” But disciples have come to believe that the power to change comes through a Higher Power, and is closely related to repentance. Paul told the Philippians that change was intimately connected to love, a love that came from God and that was spread within the community of faith. And he also told them that as they continued loving and as they sought knowledge and insight, they would become the people they had been created to be. It’s strange how that great truth can escape our attention in the course of our long lives! We become content with who we are, and some don’t even have any interest in repenting or changing. They bask in grace and remain the same year after year. What a pity! We have not been called to stay the same, and become content with our brokenness. In Christ the Spirit is always urging us to seek purity and holiness through repentance and change. And when that happens our love will overflow!

Thought for the Day: How have I been changing over my lifetime?