“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” Philippians 1:9.

I grew up in Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Jacksonville, Florida. I can still hear the old hymns raised by the deacons on Sunday mornings and our Pastor Rev. J.J. Jones would be singing and proclaiming God’s goodness in the circle during consecration time. One particular hymnal is an old African Spiritual entitled “We are Climbing Jacob’s Ladder” which says…we are climbing Jacobs Ladder, and every round goes higher and higher; it speaks of loving the Lord and our sweet communion of growing closer to the Lord as sojourners through this barren land.

Love is the only constant that bonds us to our Creator…it is through His amazing grace that we are even able to possess and grow in love. The Apostle Paul prayed for the church in Philippi to abound in love or to overflow with the love of God that was already evident in their hearts and not just to gain more love for self, but that it would draw them closer to God in sincere love that proves itself through character; agape love drives the thoughts and actions of the believer. “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;” Philippians 1:9.

The love of God within us sustains, succors, and keeps us moving, discerning, choosing good over evil and witnessing as good soldiers of the cross. As the song goes every round goes higher and higher…denotes a staircase, a journey that climbs upward. But the climb is not one of ease…Langston Hughes wrote in his poem Mother to Son– that life had not been a crystal stair-but the thought was a continual climb to the finish:

Well, son, I’ll tell you:

Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

It’s had tacks in it,

And splinters,

And boards torn up,

And places with no carpet on the floor—

Bare.

As we climb this spiritual ladder towards our Almighty God, let us remember that it is His love that gives us strength and sinew to make every round. And the blessing is that the higher we go… and endure life circumstances that force us to surrender to His will, we learn to see the way more clearly… Jesus the Christ, recognizing that it is not by our power, that we overcome each trial and tribulations but the power of Almighty God. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” John 14:6.

Do you really love the Lord? Every round really does go higher and higher and the climb becomes one of rest and peace when we hold on to God’s unchanging hands, allowing Him to lead the way. Let us hold dear to these words “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” 1 Peter 5:7.

God blessings of peace and love be with us all.