Paul the apostle knew the
fellowship and love that was within the church in Philippi. He prayed
for them, and he desired that their love would abound more and more.
He knew the work that was begun in them by the Lord would be
completed, and as they grew in love for one another they would become
more proficient at knowing things that were more excellent, sincere,
and without offense until Jesus Christ's returned. In chapter one and
verse eleven of his letter to the Philippians, Paul shared his desire
for them to be filled with fruits of righteousness to the glory and
praise of God. We read:
Being filled with the
fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory
and praise of God.
The
verse begins, “Being filled with the fruits of
righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ,...” Paul
used the word “filled”
which means “to fill to the top: so that nothing shall be
wanting to full measure, fill to the brim” when he wrote of the
“fruits of righteousness” to the Philippians who were to
have good judgment in love. These “fruits of righteousness”
were basically “the conditions acceptable to God or living in a
just manner that gives each one his due”. They mean to have
“integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of
thinking feeling, and acting”. These traits are obtainable “by
Jesus Christ”, and Paul knew as the church in Philippi grew in
their love for the Lord, they would grow in righteous ways as well.
The
verse continues, “...unto the glory and praise of God.”
Let us notice to whom Paul the
apostle states the “glory and praise”
should go as the Philippians produce “fruits of
righteousness” - “God”.
“Glory” is
basically “magnificence, excellence, preeminence, dignity,
and grace”, and “praise” is “approbation or
commendation”. Paul knew that if the Philippians were ever to have
“fruits of righteousness” in their lives, it would be
because God put them there, and He deserves the glory and praise for
doing so.
As we
think about Paul's words we may wonder if we are “filled with
fruits of righteousness”? Do our lives reflect the love of God
that is abounding within us? It is one thing to be and act righteous,
and it is quite another to be righteous “unto the glory and
praise of God”. Do we take credit and give glory to ourselves
when we develop righteous ways? Are we praising our efforts, our
determination and our willfulness as opposed to giving glory and
praise to the Lord for our “fruits of righteousness”?
Perhaps it benefit us to examine to whom we give glory and praise for
our behavior and attitudes as we grow in righteousness, and let the
words of this old song be our anthem as we continue in our
relationship with God:
Just let me live my life, Let it be pleasing, Lord, to Thee, And if I gain any praise, Let it go to Calvary.
Next
time Paul shares of the benefit of the things which have happened to
him, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow...there is more...
Look
for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From
Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want
to Be Married”, and the new devotional “One Year in the Sermon on
the Mount” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ;
www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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