In Real Knowledge and All Discernment

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In Real Knowledge and All Discernment

When we have a precise  and correct knowledge  of something very good,  our love  for that very good thing  grows.     When our mind perceives  the absolute ethical perfection  of that something very good,  our heart sees  how totally wondrous it is  to be close to  that good thing.     We are able  to discern  that there is something here  that we have been really longing for,  something good  we need  in our lives.

That’s what Paul was talking about  in Philippians 1:8-10,

For God is my witness,  how I long for you all  with the affection  of Christ Jesus.

And this I pray,  that your love may abound  still more and more  in real knowledge  and all discernment,  so that you may approve the things  that are excellent,  in order  to be sincere and blameless  until the day  of Christ.

Paul wrote this  while in prison  for preaching the gospel.     It was hard for him  to have to be away  from the Philippian congregation  and wonder  how their faith was coming along.     Paul knew  that this congregation  stood up  for the gospel of Christ,  and he was so glad  for that.     But,  those people were so new  to the faith,  and had to face  so much opposition,  temptations,  and various false teachers  that Paul wanted  to make sure  they stayed  on the right track.

It’s important  that we,  also,  stay  on the right track.     Paul tells us  how we can.     Paul says  that our Christian love  for God  and one another needs  to “abound still more and more  in real knowledge  and all discernment.”    

Christian love needs  to be based  on a very precise  and correct knowledge  of exactly who God is  and what He has done  for us  in Jesus Christ.     Our knowledge  of God  needs to be based  on reality — not the figment  of some man’s  wild imagination.     We will never come  to love God  if we are only able  to think of Him  as something He is not.     The many ways  people have presented their views  of God  present nothing  but falsehoods  and silliness   because all the imaginations  of people  are not based  on truth.

So,  instead of getting waylaid  with falsehoods,  we need  to “abound still more and more  in real knowledge  and all discernment.”     The only place  we’re going to get  that “real knowledge”  is in the Bible.     When we get  to know God  for who He really is,  our love  for God  and our fellow Christians  will “abound  still more and more.”     It will abound  because we will be dealing  with reality  and truth.

As we study the Bible,  we will gain  an intellectual  and moral discernment  for all sorts  of ethical matters.     Paul tells us  that our ability  to discern ethical matters  will help us  to “approve the things  that are excellent,  in order  to be sincere and blameless  until the day  of Christ.”

Isn’t that just what we need?

If our love  for God  is to remain strong  and true,  we need to know Him  for who He really is.     Knowing God  will enable us  to love Him enough  so that we will have the strength  and wherewithal  to remain “sincere and blameless  until the day  of Christ.”

In order  to get a handle  on our lives,  we need  to get to know God  and His ways  for us.     That will only happen  as we take time each day  to study  what God has  to say to us  in His word — and then  to pray  about what God wants  in our lives.

As we grow  to love God  more and more  for who He is,  we say,  “Hallelujah!     My Lord,  Your love  has been so powerful  and faithful  down through the ages.     Come and draw me closer  to You,  so that I may grow  in faith,  hope  and love,  to serve You now  and forever.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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