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Someone once said that 'the good old days',
when they were happening, were known as 'these trying times'. Yet we
still think wistfully of those halcyon days when God was in his heaven
etc.
The church at Phillipi was a blessing to Paul, bringing him great joy
and enjoying remarkable growth and maturity but that does not mean there
were no problems - and familiar problems.
There were quarrels amongst the leaders, a situation in which people
inevitably took sides (4:2)
People faced real struggles as they sought to maintain a level of holiness
in a singularly secular and corrupt society (1:27-29)
There was the threat of false teaching (3:1-3)
The challenge of pressing on when the first flush of conversion is over
(3:12-21)
And the problem of suffering (4:10-13)
Does that seem familiar? Someone also once said that every time is a
good time if we know what to do with it. Paul knew what to do.
Paul's response to these very typical challenges of local church life
is to pray.
Love
And this is my prayer: that your love
may abound more and more…
This is agape love, a love for God, for fellow-believers and for unbelievers
- the vast love of God. To 'abound' in love is to be rich in love, to
overflow with love. Love is the greatest gift of God (1 Cor.1-3,13)
and to grow in love is grow in God and into God's way of doing things.
Knowledge
…in knowledge and depth of insight…
This isn't simply knowledge of facts but knowledge of God. To grow in
faith is to grow in knowledge of God. 'Depth of insight' means knowing
how to act in certain situations, i.e. knowledge of God leading to wise
living.
Discernment
…that you may be able to discern what
is best…
Christians face, and have always faced difficult challenges, both in
daily life and in beliefs. Love and knowledge helps us discern 'what
is best' in what we believe as well as in how we live out what we believe.
Holiness
…and may be pure and blameless until
the day of Christ.
One day the Lord will return and how we live is important to him. Firstly
because he wants the best for so and us we must aim for the best. Secondly
because our conduct reflects on the Lord who bought us at such a price
and impacts the witness we give to those who don't yet know him.
Right living founded on agape love, a true knowledge and depth of insight
and discernment is bound to bring a rich harvest:
…filled with the fruit of righteousness
that comes through Jesus Christ - to the glory and praise of God.
Perhaps we need to pray for these things both for ourselves and for
those with whom we fellowship and work in the ministry, asking God for
a greater portion of love, knowledge and depth of insight, a discerning
spirit and wisdom to live for Christ to the glory of God.
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