Paul knew the Christians in the Philippian church faced many decisions. He knew that being a Christian during that time was not easy, and that they may suffer repercussions for befriending Paul. Although they were already a loving group of people, he wanted them to have discernment, or keen and sensitive judgment, as they made decisions each day. He prayed for them, and reminded them that their goal was to remain pure and blameless.
Just a few verses earlier, Paul reminded the Philippians that "He who began a good work in you will continue it until the day of Christ Jesus." So, if God is bound and determined to have His way in us, why bother praying at all? Why bother to seek, to grow, to learn? Certainly, it is a part of God's great work in us to develop a desire for Him. The more we desire Him, the more He will work in our lives. And the more He works in our lives, the more we will desire Him, and the cycle goes on and on and on.
As we desire God, we will remain pure and blameless. The way for us to remain pure and blameless today is to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God. The way for our love to abound, to overflow, is to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God. And the way to grow in our knowledge and discernment of God is to remain pure and blameless, and to let His love abound. So you see, it all depends on us. And it all depends on God. We cannot grow in Him without His divine hand in our lives. But He will bless our desire to grow, by showing up and causing that growth!
Dear Father, This is my prayer: that my love will abound more and more in knowledge and insight, so that I may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ.
Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment