And I pray this: that your love will keep on growing in knowledge and every kind of discernment, so that you may approve the things that are superior and may be pure and blameless in the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
In this passage Paul is explaining the things that are in
his prayer life toward the people in Philippi. He is thankful (Philippians 1:3),
Joyful (Philippians
1:4), Praising their partnership with him (Philippians 1:5,7),
confident about Christ’s work in them (Philippians 1:6),
missing them, and affectionate toward them (Philippians 1:8).
These prayers are thanksgiving and faith. He then delves into the substance of
his intersession for the people of Philippi.
I want to draw attention to the progression of these verses.
First this progression is rooted in love. Love grows in knowledge and
discernment. This growth of knowledge and discernment leads to agreement with
superior things and sanctification in Christ. This sanctification leads to
works of righteousness in Christ that then culminates with glorifying and
praising of God.
I have an image of a tree when I think of these verses. The
root of the tree is love. The trunk of the tree is knowledge and discernment.
The branches of the tree are agreement with God. The leaves of the tree are
sanctification. The fruit of the tree is works of righteousness. Finally, the provision
these works leads to the glory and praise of God.
The love in this prayer is a request for an abounding love.
This love is overflowing and extravagant. It is more than that. This love is
more and more overflowing and extravagant. The word overflowing is the same
word that is used when the disciples collected 12 baskets from the five barley
loaves in John
6:13. This multiplied and overflowing love is Paul’s prayer for the
Philippian church. Love, if this prayer is fulfilled, is the unmistakable
miracle of God. This overflow is a work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of
believers expressed in their lives through the relationships they have with
others.
As I interact with this text, I recognize that despite the
best intentions to live out this type of love I am wholly inadequate to do so
(Romans 7). Truthfully the only way to constantly love with abounding love of
God is to persistently set your mind on the Spirit (Romans 8). It is only with
the indwelling and manifestation of God’s Holy Spirit that we can possibly
overcome our natural bent toward self-love and walk in the love and goodness of
God.
As our love for God grows it is evidenced by knowledge and
discernment. There is major distinction between a shallow faith that is easily
withered under trials (Matthew 13:20-21). This is not the case for faith that
reflects genuine love that God has for you and you for God. True spiritual
knowledge is an intimacy with God. So often we settle for knowing things about
God and fail to press on to knowing God. Jesus warns that knowing about God is
not enough. We must also know God in a relational way (Matthew 7:23).
Discernment is a sign of maturity in the faith (Hebrews 5:14).
Note though that discernment is maturity in handling the word of God. It is
popular to try to skip digging into God’s word to mature faith and rely on
popular preachers to tell you what to think. This creates immaturity and
division (1
Corinthians 3:1-4). True discernment then is studying the word of God to
strengthen your perception of God and Godliness. Growing in love, insight, and
perception of God is a relational and deep spiritual maturity. It is an
activity that is rooted in learning more and more from God’s word.
With a secure foundation of this growing love then you are
equipped to pay attention to praiseworthy things of God. We approve of the
superior things of God. These are of the highest quality and to be treasured.
We also notice the purity of God’s blessings and provisions. This pursuit is
blameless. We rise above the actions and words that give offence (in a sinful
manner). If people are offended it is at the truth of God but not offensive actions
on our part. We are transformed and renewed in our thinking and continue to
grow in greater and greater discernment (Romans 12:2).
As we apply this to our lives empowered by the Holy Spirit God does a work of
sanctification in our lives (1
Thessalonians 5:23 and 2
Thessalonians 2:13). There are no short cuts in this. God saves and
sanctifies through the Holy Spirit as we commit to knowing Him and His Holy
Word!
This is where things begin to be a blessing. With Love,
knowledge, discernment, approval of things superior, pure, and blameless
established in the heart of a believer then real spiritual fruit is produced (Galatians
5:22-25). This fruit is evident in the life of a believer and is ultimately
a blessing to those around them. This fruit becomes external evidence of God’s
work in the heart of the believer (1 John 2:29).
This fruit of righteousness brings soul filling life (Proverbs 11:30).
There also is a fruitfulness of service (Titus 3:14).
Of course, all of this culminates in the glorification and
praise to God (Philippians 1:11). In short Love for God, leads to growing
in knowledge and discernment, leads to approval of things superior, pure, and
blameless, leads to fruitfulness in Christ, leads to glorification and praise
of our God. And that my dear friends is my prayer for you!
God Bless You
~BJ
