Growing Into The Love of God

I was reading Philipians this morning during my extended devotion time. (I was off for President's Day and took the opportunity to have an extended Bible reading.) I took special notice today of Chap 1 Vs 3. "I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, 5 for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ; 7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace. " Paul telling the Philipians that they are partners with him for their support. Those who send share in the benefits with those who go. Paul emphasized his unity with them and pleaded for them to be unified with one another. It is easy to get out of unity over things that probably don't mean a whole lot. If we love one another in the church, then we'll look to forgiveness, compassion and healing. Doctrine is important, and Paul didn't gloss over important doctrinal distinctions such as works vs grace. In fact, he called those who were pressing the Galatians to be circumcised, cursed. In Philipians, he calls them dogs (3:9). But there is a unity to be attained in the church over things that have no bearing on issues of salvation and sanctification. We cannot keep fellowship with someone who is living in open and unrepentant sin. Still it is my heart to grow into the love of God, that sacrificial love that gives itself with freedom from concern about self.