Articles
Approving What Is Excellent - Philippians 1:9-11
Approving What Is Excellent - Philippians 1:9-11
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” (Philippians 1:9-11).
Paul started the church in Philippi and then left under difficult circumstances (read again the history of the beginnings of this church in Acts 16). Yet, in some respects, Paul left them in better circumstances than the churches he was about to establish. Here, although Paul was arrested and beaten, because the rulers of the city learned AFTERWARDS that he was a Roman citizen, they tried to appease him. Thus, they were not in a position to continue persecuting the church, knowing that they themselves had broken Roman law in beating Paul. Yet, the church was in the middle of controversy and uproar. Paul then left this fledgling church in a cloud of problems with the community.
Knowing that he left these babes in Christ in such a difficult situation, he prays for them. It is always interesting to see what these men of God prayed for, and usually, we discover their prayers have a different emphasis than what we are inclined to pray for!
1. He prayed for their abounding in real knowledge and discernment.
2. Such knowledge and discernment would allow them not only to approve what is right, but what is excellent. They had not been called to just ‘get by’ or ‘be mediocre’, but to excel in righteousness and godliness. They were to be lights unto their community.
3. Such discernment would allow them to be ‘sincere’ and ‘without blame’ before God. Even IF they faced rumors and accusations from the community, they would be vindicated by the truth of their lives. Even if they were condemned by the community, they would be approved by God.
4. Such approval with God comes from a life that has been filled with the fruit of righteousness: “…the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control…” (Gal. 5:22-23).
5. All of this leads to the glory and praise of God. The ultimate goal was that God would be glorified! It was NOT a life of ease and comfort.
We need more prayer like this in our lives for our fellow disciples. Have you learned to discern that which is excellent?
Hugh DeLong
