Prayerfully, we can continue to grow in our knowledge of God’s ultimate purpose, plan for the believer, and revealed will. If we know these and trust God’s good character, we can function as faithful followers even amidst the soul-wrenching chaos of life’s circumstances.
“A love that costs nothing will accomplish nothing.” We are to imitate God by having love drive our imitation of Him. If our love for others never costs us anything, we are not truly loving that person.
First, it is important to pause and notice that Paul wants us to fix our gaze on “him”, which in the context means the Father. What Paul wrote in 3:14-19 and what he writes in 20-21 is all about God. When we get to the next lines of the verse, it is not about what God might do through us but about God’s work.