Philippians
1:9–11 (NKJV) 9And this I pray, that your love may abound still more
and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10that you may approve
the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till
the day of Christ, 11being filled with the fruits of righteousness
which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
In this
prayer for the believers at Philippi Paul expresses his desire to see them
continually grow in their love. “The Christian love for which Paul prays is
regulated by knowledge of the gospel and comprehensive moral insight. These constraints do not stifle love. Far from it: They ensure its purity and
value.”[1]
But for this love to be genuine or authentic it needs to be shaped or molded by
their knowledge of God and His Word and godly
discernment. The purpose of this growth
in love, knowledge and discernment is so that we can make decisions to approve
what is excellent. If we don’t make
decisions that are pleasing to God, then we won’t find ourselves without
offense when the Day of Christ comes.
This
challenge to “approve things that are excellent” may not be an easy choice
between things that are black and white or obviously right or wrong. They will be choices that are determined by
what is the best choice of two or three good options. “It turns, rather, on delicate choices that
reflect one’s entire value system, one’s entire set of priorities, one’s heart
and mind.” [2]
We can apply
these criteria; to our use of time and ask ourselves, “What have we done with
our time during the last week? How much
time has gone to building our own spiritual life? How much time has gone to investing in the
spiritual lives of others through teaching and/or witnessing?”
What have we
done with our time during the last week?
Did our activities of the week build our spiritual lives? Do we have a thirst for a knowledge of God in
our reading that drives us to learn more and more about Him.
The purpose
of Paul’s prayer was the hope that the Philippian believers would make wise
discerning choices that they might be pleasing to God. This is a challenge to us to be considering
the believers we know and praying for them in the same manner.
The result
of a life of making excellent choices is a life full of the “fruits of
righteousness.” As this love grows and
our choices excel the Holy Spirit produces within us the “fruit of
righteousness.”
The video version of this is available at www.youtube.com/churchoflittleton FW # 46
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