“God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus. I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.”
Philippians 1:8-9 NLT
Jesus brought a special kind of love to earth with him. First, the Son of God became man, weak, dependent and vulnerable. He did so that we may know life and life more abundantly. Second, Jesus lived a life without sin so that he may be the perfect atonement for our vile sin nature. Lastly, Jesus went willing to the cross to die for us so we may be redeemed in God’s eyes. His blood paid our price we could never pay. That my friends is a picture of true and perfect love.
Paul tells us that he loves with a tender compassion of Christ for those who are lost. He prays that our love will grow and mature to the point of over flowing. We cannot do what the Lord is calling us to do unless we have that Jesus kind of love for others and we have it in abundance. When his love overflows in our lives, it will touch, it will influence others because it has real power to change people and circumstances.
When we pray, we should ask the Father for an abundance of the Jesus kind of love in our lives. It will change us from the inside out and give us what we need to minister and encourage others. We should long for this kind of love, for it will empower our lives for the kingdom and restore us as well!
In Christ
RJ