Young Adults' Group

A Time To Abound In Love

by Pastor Mark
February 20, 2020

Love conquers all

I was deeply moved by last Sunday’s Worship video message that was given by Pastor Charles. It was indeed an unprecedented experience for Bethany to suspend our usual worship service and for Pastor to give an online message due to the risk of the spread of COVID-19 virus. My heart was deeply moved as I learnt that we could be more than conquerors through focusing on the Spirit of God who intercedes for us and through having a fullness of faith. As we face this tough situation, one aspect that struck me was the love of God through Christ. (Rom 8:39) Nothing can separate us from this divine love. It prevails and conquers all things. Let us seek to be filled with God’s love during this most difficult time.

Praying for our love to abound

The hard decision to suspend our services was done, not out of fear but out of love for our brethren, especially for those who are most vulnerable. Yet, we recognise that there are divided opinions concerning the suspension of the services. It is at such times that we must learn to abound in love for our brethren and each other. Let us pray for our love to abound more and more as Paul did for the Philippian church, “And this I pray that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,” (Phil 1:9) The word “abound” in Greek is “perisseuo” which means to “super abound, to be in excess”. Paul knew that the Philippian church had already attained a certain level of love. His purpose in praying for them was for their love to “super abound”, to move from one level to the next as they faced their own difficulties such as having conflicts among them. Let us, at this challenging time, learn to go beyond ourselves and to increase our love to a higher level.

Love in knowledge and discernment

Paul’s understanding of love was one in which there must be knowledge and discernment. Love should be applied with in-depth knowledge rather than ignorance. The word “discernment” in Greek is “aesthesis” which means “perception”. Love should abound with greater discernment and perception rather than being foolish or being foolhardy. As we deepen our understanding of our knowledge of the love of God, it should cause us to increase towards a higher level of love. As we learn to love with greater perception, we actually learn to choose to love with wisdom.

Expressions of our abounding love

1. To be able to approve the things that are excellent

“that you may approve the things that are excellent,” (Phil 1:10)

The result of praying for our love to increase in all knowledge and discernment is that we would be able to express that love in a far more definite way manner. The word “approve” in Greek is “dokimazo” which is to test and approve the things that are excellent. Let us learn to love by distinguishing the more excellent things. It is what we have sought to do…to love in a far more excellent way as a church as this virus continues to spread.

2. To be sincere and without offence

“that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ,” (Phil 1:10)

The love that we seek to express is one that is sincere and pure. It is without offence. If we do not take the necessary actions, and the virus does spread to our church, we may end up offending people within and outside the church. Let us be challenged to abound in love and express this more excellent and sincere love for each other and the brethren in our church. Let us express our love to our health workers as they face the threat of this virus each day. Let us pray and truly abound in love as a church with a greater sense of unity through this time.

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