April 07 2026

Tuesday April 07

A Love That Overflows

Philippians 1:8

“For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”

Today we are moving on to verse 8 of Philippians 1. The Apostle Paul has already told them in verse 7, “Inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you are partakers with me of grace.” We have been talking about being partakers with him of grace. We are partners together in the grace of God as we serve the Lord Jesus Christ wherever we are. The Apostle Paul is in prison. He is in chains. So in verse 8, he goes on to say, “For God is my witness, how greatly I long for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.”

This is powerful for us to understand because here the Apostle Paul says that his love for them is not just human affection, but it is the affection of Jesus Christ. In the original language of this passage, where he talks about “affection,” the word there comes from the idea of the bowels—deep within my bowels, deep within my inner being. There is a love that overflows for you.

What love is that? It is not human love. It is supernatural love. It is the love of Jesus Christ. When we become a follower of Jesus Christ and accept Him as our Lord and Savior, and we begin to deny self, take up the cross, and follow Him, something supernatural takes place. There is a love in our heart for others—I mean everyone around us.

Now sometimes it seems impossible to like certain people because of their attitudes and their actions. You know what I am talking about. The Apostle Paul even said in Romans chapter 12, “If it is possible, live peaceably with all men.” But no matter whether we can live peaceably with them or not, we are to love them. We are to have an affection for them.

Now I have always pictured this as understanding that God Himself is love. “God is love” (1 John 4:8 &16). I am, by nature, selfish. I am looking out for me. But God is love. When I now have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ, I have available to me the reservoir of God’s endless, limitless love. The Bible teaches us in Romans 5:1-8: “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” So it all begins with salvation and justification. Verse 2: “Through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint.”

Now here it is: “Because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (v.5-6). Now Paul puts this together, I believe, helping us understand that as we go through trials—remember Paul is in prison, he is in chains, he is going through a time of suffering—when we go through those difficult times, the tendency is to focus on ourselves: our pain, our hurt, our suffering. But Paul says that when all this really happens, it should cause us to focus on God and His strength—His great reservoir of love that is available to us. And the Holy Spirit supernaturally now pours out that love.

So I picture it this way: I reach up into that reservoir of God’s love, and I take His love—and whether I feel it or not—I give His love, His grace, His kindness, His gentleness, His affection, His compassion. I give it to the person who needs it closest to me. Who is my neighbor? It is the person closest to me who needs God and needs to experience His love. What kind of love is that? Here it is: “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). That is how much He loved us. He gave His own Son. That is the love we now give—supernaturally. Not our love, but God’s love to those around us.

That is why Paul said, “I have God as my witness. That is the kind of love and affection I have for you.” And that is the kind of love and affection we should have for those around us as we gather together—even with other believers who are sometimes hard to love.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!