Today’s Reading: Matthew 16:18; Philippians 1:9-11; Revelation 2:4; SOAP: Philippians 1:9-11
9 I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. 10 For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. 11 May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.
Philippians 1:9-11
Paul’s prayer is for the love of the Philippians to overflow …. and that they will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding.
- Why? Because he wants them to understand what really matters
- Why? So that they may live pure and blameless lives
He also prays that they may always be filled filled with the fruit of their salvation
- What is that fruit?
- Paul explains that it is the righteous character that Jesus produces in them
- Why does the fruit of righteousness matter?
- Because it brings praise and glory to God …. and that is what really matters. We know this because we are told in Scripture that we were created by Him and for Him.
“You are worthy, O Lord our God,
Revelation 4:11
to receive glory and honor and power.
For you created all things,
and they exist because you created what you pleased.”
Paul’s prayer here for the Philippians is probably one of the most important prayers we can pray for each other as well as for ourselves. He’s praying about what really matters – not just that they might grow in love but in the knowledge and understanding of how to live and love like Jesus Christ. Paul knew that the more we understand about how Jesus lived the more like Him we will be. It’s hard to imagine living “pure and blameless lives” but that is the prayer and encouragement of Paul. – Not just because he believed it was possible but because Paul understood what really matters and he wanted the church to understand it as well – because He knows it will bring praise and glory to God. He explains the secret behind it – and that is Jesus Himself living in us – His Spirit doing the work and producing the fruit that bears witness that our faith is real – and that glorifies God.