Philippians 1:9
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”
The Apostle Paul began this letter to the church in Philippi by telling them his prayers for them. You find in his prayers the desires he has for these people. When you look at his desires for these Christians, you see how God desires every Christian to live. Let me show you these desires God has for you.
First, God desires that your “love may abound.” One of the greatest attributes of every Christian should be love. Love is what moved God to send His Son to die for mankind. Love is what moved Jesus to come to Earth to be our substitute for sin. Love is truly the key to the Christian life. When you lack in love, you will lack the ability to restore the fallen. When you lack in love, you will lack with your outreach to the lost world. Love is what allows you to get along with people whom sin has broken. If there is one area where you should ask God to help you grow it should be in the area of your love for one another. God’s desire is that your love for others would abound.
Second, God desires that you will “approve things that are excellent.” In other words, God desires that the Christian’s discernment grows. It is good to have the love of God in your life, but you must let discernment temper your love. The person without discernment will allow their love for people to change where they stand for Christ. Certainly, God wants the Christian to be filled with love, but He also wants them to have the discernment to know what is right and wrong. This discernment will keep you from getting involved with people with whom you should have no association.
Third, God desires that you are “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.” In other words, God wants you to live a life in such a manner that nobody can point their finger at you for doing wrong. That means that you must be sure that you are right with your fellow man. Because we are sinners, we are going to have times when we do others wrong, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t get it right. When you have wronged someone, you are to get things right. Sincerity of heart will help you to right your wrong. When you know you have wronged someone, then sincerity will move you to do everything in your power to get it right. This is what allows you to live a life without “offence.”
Fourth, God desires that you are “filled with the fruits of righteousness.” In other words, what does your life produce? We all produce something in our life, and God’s desire is that your life produces righteousness. Are you living a life of righteousness or are you living a life of sin? Righteous acts produce righteous fruits. You will never have “fruits of righteousness” until you determine to live your life for others. Don’t live a self-centered life, but live the selfless life that does whatever it can to help others.
Are you fulfilling God’s desire for your life? These four things will bring peace to every home. These four things will cause every person in the workplace to work together. These four things will cause every Christian in the church to get along with each other. Make it your daily goal to fulfill God’s desire for your life, and when you do, you will find that you will live a fulfilling life.