Philippians 1:9-11—Moving Towards Christ

“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, ¹⁰so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; ¹¹having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:9-11 (NASB, other translations here)

Today’s reading stresses several themes that we have seen throughout this week’s readings.

One is moving towards God, growing into what he wants from and for us. We see that in Saint Paul’s prayer that we abound “more and more in real knowledge and discernment.”   We also saw that in Philippians 3:13-14; it similarly exhorted us to strain towards what is ahead and press onto the things God created us for. Hebrews 12:1-2 likewise instructed us to run towards Christ and what he created us for. 

Another is to focus on Jesus.  Philippians 1:11  tells us that all the growth and progress God wants from us “comes through Jesus Christ.”  That parallels Hebrews 12:2’s instruction to “fix[] our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of faith[.]” Colossians 2:7 provided similar instruction when it stressed being “rooted and  built up in Him[.]” 

Yet another is that we are to keep growing, that this movement should be continual. We see that in Philippians 1:10’s prayer that we keep maturing “until the day of Christ[.]”  Hebrews 12:1 likewise spoke of “run[ning] with perseverance[.]” 

So how do we do that?  This week’s reading addressed that too, two ways.  One is that we must be willing to leave behind things that impair our movement towards what God wants from us; Philippians 3:13 and Hebrews 12:1 told us to get rid of those things.  The other is to ask for God’s wisdom about the specifics of how to do that; James 1:5  told us that God gives it “generously to all without finding fault” when we ask Him.

The bottom line: God wants us to keep growing towards him and what he created us for, to do so by focusing on Jesus, to keep at it as long as we live, and is eager to help us do so. Let’s take him up on that.

Prayer:

Loving Father, please draw us to you and what you want from you. Jesus, please focus us on you and your examples. Holy Spirit, please inspire and empower us to keep growing towards and in what you desire from us all the days of our lives.