“My prayer for you is that you
will overflow more and more with love for others, and at the same time keep on
growing in spiritual knowledge and insight, for I want you always to see
clearly the difference between right and wrong, and to be inwardly clean, no
one being able to criticize you from now until our Lord returns.” Philippians
1:9-10 [The Living Bible]
Paul’s letter to “all the Christians in the city of Philippi” is
considered his most pastoral in style and content. He expresses his love and affection to them
and even uses the word “joy” in both verb and noun forms 16x, which is pretty
incredible considering that most scholars agree Paul wrote this letter from the
confines of a prison in Rome.
Our goal as Christians is not so much to tell folks of the love of
Christ, but to show it to them. Talk to
cheap. Too many believers tell others
about Jesus all the time, but don’t back it up with a godly lifestyle. Remember, we are not of this world. Our home is in heaven. Living like the world is both shortsighted
and ignorant. The ignorance of many Christians is that they don’t even know
what God’s promises are. It’s true that
God loves us forever with an unconditional love, however, He is expecting
us to move forward spiritually from the spot we were standing on when we first accepted
His forgiveness. We shouldn’t just
snatch his gift of grace, then run and hide with it.
Paul asks that the Philippian church “keep on growing in spiritual knowledge and insight, always
seeing clearly the difference between right and wrong.” Notice
Paul wishes that they would grow spiritually. It is with spiritual eyesight that you can
discern that which is right and that which is wrong. Living lives that are not pleasing to the
Lord is not only confusing to non-believers, but it tramples on God’s grace
(undeserved favor). Feed your spirit man
daily and always strive to do that which is right in the sight of God. Until next time, walk with the King and be a
blessing!
Resources: The Asbury Bible Commentary.
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