Paul makes a beautiful prayer for the Philippians in his epistle to the Philippians [1:9-11].
Paul’s prayer is that (1) their love may abound more and more; (2) with knowledge and all discernment so that (3) you may approve what is excellent and (4) be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, (5) filled with the fruit of righteousness (6) that comes through Jesus Christ, (7) to the glory and praise of God.
We see in Paul’s thanksgiving [Philippians 1:3-8] that he is thankful to God for the Philippians because of their love shown towards him in good times and tough times. Yet we see that Paul is praying for the Philippians that their love may abound – more and more. Paul prays that they continue doing the good and grow more in it.
Paul prays that the Philippians grow in love for each other with knowledge and all discernment. When our knowledge of God and what God has to say about our fellow brothers and sisters increases it results in an increase in our love for them. We also need to discern how to love. The better we discern how to express love, the better we can express love. When we are able to love one another with increasing knowledge and discernment, we will be able to approve what is excellent. i.e. we will be able to affirm and practice what is excellent.
Paul prays this so that we may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ. Pure in motives and blameless in actions. When we love one another with knowledge and discernment, we approve what is excellent and we also are able to be pure in motives and blameless in our actions. We can only do all this being filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus. We have to have enjoyed the saving grace of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Why do we need to love? We love because of the fruit of righteousness that comes through Christ Jesus. He is the reason! All this is to the praise and glory of God.
When we are truly able to love each other because of the finished work of Jesus on the cross of calvary, we bring praise and glory to God!
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