Morning Moments

Philippians 1 continued



4.  AS I REFLECT "In my heart...I long"    1:7-8

7. Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8. For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
What keeps this man, Paul, going? He is like the Timex watch, he takes a licking and keeps on ticking. He is like the battery that keeps going and going and going. He is in prison but God is not, grace is not, and the Philippians are not. They had grown in God and grace for 10 years and were so in Paul's heart that when he looked at his own heart he saw their reflection as sharing with him in this trial, in his defense, and in the confirmation of the gospel. They hurt because they felt his hurt and he hurt because they were hurting for his hurt - they were in this together. He calls God as a witness to his inner affections for them in Christ.

5.  AS I REASSURE  "That ye abound and approve" 1:9-11

9. And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10. That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11. Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Paul's prayer for those who are such a part of him in and because of Jesus is that their love, understanding, and spiritual perception would continue to grow. All of these are things we get from God that are a part of our spiritual maturity that is to never cease. The Christian life is a growth process that is not to stop. Paul wants them to continue to be real and right, growing and glowing for Jesus without show or pretense until Jesus comes. This is all a part of the fruit that comes from abiding in Him and His words in us. When He gets the praise and glory for "much fruit" bearing, we have fulfilled the purpose for which we exist at any maturity level. The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace so we don't go around offending everybody by our knowledge, love, and discernment, but helping them instead.

BLESSINGS!