Philippians 1:7-11

Passage

It is okay for me to feel this joy to you all because I hold you in my heart.  You all are partaking in Christ – both in defending the faith and in my own personal bondage.  God is my witness; I yearn for you all in the affection of Christ Jesus.  It is my prayer that you may experience an abundance of love – with discernment and knowledge – so that you may approve of what is excellent while being pure and blameless in the Day of Christ.  May you be filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.  To God be the glory and praise.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

This is one of the best passages out there with respect to Christian fellowship.  In fact, this passage is ripe with the Greek word “Koinos” (κοινος) and its derivatives.  The word koinos simply means “common.”  The word koinonia means to have in common – which is the word in the New Testament that we translate as “fellowship.”  The Greek that the Bible is written in is called Koine Greek, which is the Greek of the commoner.  When we take this background and put it into the passage, we hear Paul talking about the commonalities that they have with him.  They are defending the faith.  They are embracing the needs of his bondage.  They are partaking with Paul in Christ.  For Paul, when he looks to the Philippians he sees a people who are together and with him.  That is what it means to be in fellowship.

With whom do you have a common faith?  With whom do you share common struggles?  Who are your “koinonia” spiritual friends?

Second Thought:

Paul prays that the Philippians experience an abundance of love.  However, notice that love is not the only thing for which Paul asks.  Paul asks for an abundance of love mixed with wisdom and discernment.  It is love mixed with wisdom and discernment that is unique to God.  It is good to know what to love.  It is good to know the best means to love.  Untempered love can be a dangerous thing.  Love tempered with wisdom and discernment is a godly love.

What does untempered love look like?  What tempering happens when we also have wisdom and discernment?  Do you believe that love tempered with wisdom and discernment is unique to God?

Third Thought:

Paul desires that the Philippians be pure and blameless in the Day of Christ.  He also prays that they are filled with the fruit of righteousness.  Paul knows that following Jesus is more than just be holy inside.  One’s righteousness should lead to the bearing of fruit.  One’s purity should lead to bearing fruit.  Purity and righteousness that is kept only on the inside is like that which the Pharisees sought – a spirit of being “holier than thou.”  No, our righteousness and purity should lead us into the world to proclaim God to the world and accept sinners like us into a relationship with God so that they can grow closer to Him.

Why do you think this idea of bearing fruit is so prevalent in the New Testament?  In what have you been made pure and blameless?  How can that lead to bearing fruit in your life?

Passage for Tomorrow: Philippians 1:12-14