Monday's SOAP - Philippians 1:3-11

 ³ Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ⁴ Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, ⁵ for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. ⁶ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 ⁷ So it is right that I should feel as I do about all of you, for you have a special place in my heart. You share with me the special favor of God, both in my imprisonment and in defending and confirming the truth of the Good News. ⁸ God knows how much I love you and long for you with the tender compassion of Christ Jesus.

 ⁹ I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. ¹⁰ For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. ¹¹ May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.

S(cripture) - I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 

O(bservation) - This is a beautiful text.  Paul is praying for the church he started in Ephesus - praying from prison.  His love for them is pure agape love - unconditional - concerned with the other.  In v 9, Paul gets specific about his prayers - that their love will overflow more and more.  The imagery here is striking.  That would KNOW love that flows from God in abundance - more love than they can handle - "abounding" - more than enough - more and more - like a river overflowing it's banks.  Paul doesn't attach an object to this love.  He doesn't say love for others or each other or for him or for God.  I suspect it is because it is "all of the above."  God's abundant love flows - overflows - in all directions!  You might want to contemplate that for a second.  What kind of love is this that empowers us to love beyond our own abilities?

A(pplication) - This is what I pray for you, everyday when the alarm on my phone goes off at 3:14.  I want you to understand what really matters - so that you may live pure and blameless lives.  There is no law against love.  Even if you mess up, if your motivation is love - unconditional love - God will find you pure and blameless.  Love trumps sin.  As Viners, who are connected to The Vine, may you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation.

P(rayer) - Abba, pour love into those that I am shepherding.  Pour it out more and more that they may know and understand grace - love with no conditions - overflowing love.  And living in that love, in that grace - be found pure and blameless.  Keep us connected to Your Son so that we may bear fruit for your Kingdom.  And as we live kingdom lives, pouring the love of Christ into others, my we discover joy, hope, peace in greater and greater measure.  Abundance Abba.  Your goodness is too great to imagine.  Thank you for  the gift of Your Son, who taught us love.  Amen.