And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment].
—Philippians 1:9
When something abounds, it grows and becomes so big that it chases people down, overtaking and overwhelming them. This is how Paul prayed for the church—that love would abound. Then he said, "So that you may surely learn to sense what it vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value" (Philippians 1:10).
It is very important to be a person of excellence—to do your very best every day in all you believe God is asking you to do . . . to do every job to the best of your ability. You can't be an excellent person and not walk in love, and you can't walk in love and not be an excellent person. To abound in love is the most excellent thing you can do.
PS. to all fathers, grandfathers and soon to be fathers,
Happy Father's Day =)
Counting the Cost
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.”
Luke 14:28–30
During the days of Hudson Taylor, the China Inland Mission established a boarding school in China where young men could come and receive an education both in secular and spiritual matters. At one time, the school was headed by a Mr. Li, a conscientious worker. His diligence came to the attention of the Standard Oil Company, which was expanding their operation in China, and he was offered a position that would double his pay.
He initially agreed to accept the job, but when he was told that it would require him to work on Sundays and miss the services at his church, Mr. Li declined the position. In response, the company offered to raise his salary further to three times what he had been making, and to give him Sundays off. But as Mr. Li prayed, he came to the decision that he needed to stay with his work for the Lord, despite the financial sacrifice. He wrote, “I am sorry I cannot come and work for your company. I have decided to work for God, and win the boys to Jesus Christ. I beg you a thousand pardons.”
True service for God never comes without a price. Jesus knew the cost before He came to Earth to die for our sins. All of the time, effort, and resources that we put into His work could be used for other purposes. But Jesus calls us to consider the eternal rather than the temporal, and to be willing to make whatever sacrifices are required in order to live as He calls and commands us to live.
Luke 14:28–30
During the days of Hudson Taylor, the China Inland Mission established a boarding school in China where young men could come and receive an education both in secular and spiritual matters. At one time, the school was headed by a Mr. Li, a conscientious worker. His diligence came to the attention of the Standard Oil Company, which was expanding their operation in China, and he was offered a position that would double his pay.
He initially agreed to accept the job, but when he was told that it would require him to work on Sundays and miss the services at his church, Mr. Li declined the position. In response, the company offered to raise his salary further to three times what he had been making, and to give him Sundays off. But as Mr. Li prayed, he came to the decision that he needed to stay with his work for the Lord, despite the financial sacrifice. He wrote, “I am sorry I cannot come and work for your company. I have decided to work for God, and win the boys to Jesus Christ. I beg you a thousand pardons.”
True service for God never comes without a price. Jesus knew the cost before He came to Earth to die for our sins. All of the time, effort, and resources that we put into His work could be used for other purposes. But Jesus calls us to consider the eternal rather than the temporal, and to be willing to make whatever sacrifices are required in order to live as He calls and commands us to live.
Today’s Growth Principle:
Only those who are willing to pay the cost are able to truly walk in Jesus’ steps.
A More Excellent Way
by Joyce Meyer - posted June 18, 2016And this I pray: that your love may abound yet more and more and extend to its fullest development in knowledge and all keen insight [that your love may display itself in greater depth of acquaintance and more comprehensive discernment].
—Philippians 1:9
When something abounds, it grows and becomes so big that it chases people down, overtaking and overwhelming them. This is how Paul prayed for the church—that love would abound. Then he said, "So that you may surely learn to sense what it vital, and approve and prize what is excellent and of real value" (Philippians 1:10).
It is very important to be a person of excellence—to do your very best every day in all you believe God is asking you to do . . . to do every job to the best of your ability. You can't be an excellent person and not walk in love, and you can't walk in love and not be an excellent person. To abound in love is the most excellent thing you can do.
PS. to all fathers, grandfathers and soon to be fathers,
Happy Father's Day =)
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