Use Your Head!

Philippians Chapter 1


Scripture:
So this is my prayer: that your love will flourish and that you will not only love much but well. Learn to love appropriately. You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush. Live a lover's life, circumspect and exemplary, a life Jesus will be proud of: bountiful in fruits from the soul, making Jesus Christ attractive to all, getting everyone involved in the glory and praise of God.  (Phil. 1:9-11) ~The Message


Observation:
I like using The Message version once in a while, it keeps the meaning fresh when you know and love the verses so well that you skip over them.  Paul is encouraging his congregation in Philippi with these words about love.  "You need to use your head and test your feelings so that your love is sincere and intelligent, not sentimental gush."  We all know people who are lead by their feelings, or maybe I should say that we've all had our turns of being lead by our feelings!  We've all been there.  So it struck me today, where the emphasis rested in this version.  So I went back to the NIV for reference and it  says "may your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight."

Application:
Let me encourage you today with these words.  Spend time in whatever situations you find yourself in and use your head to test your feelings.  Let love (Christ) abound more and more, giving you knowledge and depth of insight.  

Ask Him for wisdom in that decision you need to make, that conversation you need to have.  It's so easy to let our reactions push us, and the emotion of the moment to drive.  

Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your love, that living, growing thing inside of us that flourishes.  I praise you for the way your love is always appropriate, and that I can trust you to guide me into righteousness.  Amen.