NEW TESTAMENT READING PLAN: Acts 26-28
SCRIPTURE READING
Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV); And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more
in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may
be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes
through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
There are some things that all people are purposed for, and loving God is primary. And in
this love for our Maker, we are purposed to have an intimate relationship with Him who
exemplifies the very idea of purpose.
A common tendency is to separate THE relationship from other relationships – intimacy
with God from the reality of daily living. But Christ IS reality. A disciplined and focused
regime of spending uninterrupted time with the Lord is vital in connecting our spirit to His
and increasing our understanding of His character and His Word, but that closeness must
be carried on in every motion of the day-to-day. The one-on-one time with Him checks our
motives and creates a soft and fertile ground in which seeds can be planted and grown. And
this softening refines our reflection of His image. Out of time spent in His presence comes
a gentler answer in the workplace. Out of intimacy with Him comes greater depth in already
established friendships. Out of an experience of His love comes a flood of mercy onto all
those whose paths we cross. We are purposed for an intimacy with God that extends into
every aspect of our lives. As we seek Him, our love for others will abound more and more!
PRAYER and MEDITATION
1. Is your relationship with God vibrant? How do you know? If there is apathy, confess it.
2. Meditate on the scripture passage. What does God want to say to you through it about
how your relationship with Him can affect the fruit of love in your life?
3. Ask God to show you how your level of intimacy with Him is influencing your
relationships? Is love abounding more and more in your life? Ask Him what you need to
do to grow in a personal and intimate relationship with Him that can overflow into love for
others.
