Phil. 1:9-11. Third Prayer

" And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; that ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ; being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."
Paul here prays for practical blessing, that their love may abound, and that they may be filled with the fruits of righteousness.
First, he prayed that they might have the knowledge of the Father; secondly, that they might know the love of Christ, and here that their love may abound. Beautiful order in all this, in accordance with the character of each Epistle. The one to the Ephesians is addressed to them as revealing their position, and the love of Christ in bringing them into that high place. Here it is from servants to servants,-and that they may act like Christ the perfect servant. See Paul's service in chap. 1, Christ's service in chap. ii.; also the service of Timothy; and that of the Philippians, who were not only standing in the same blessing and grace as the Ephesians, but they had " fellowship in the gospel" unitedly seeking God's glory. We ought to watch opportunities for serving one another and for fellowship. What a depth of joy there is in Christian fellowship-in realized union -we ought to seek to cultivate this.
"Love" abounding "in knowledge" should be in the intelligence of the mind of God. Our love may not be true, because not in consistency with God's love. God always punishes a fault, and never passes it over: I might exhibit false love to a saint, and do away with God's discipline.
Paul prays that their love may be of such a high character, because they were in such a high place that he could thank God upon every remembrance of them (ver. 3).
We should ever be willing to receive any chastisement of our Father. " Thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions" (Psa. 99:8).
Suppose we are acting in any way contrary to God, He punishes but forgives (see David, etc.) We ought to love as God loves, "in all judgment," that is true love. "By this we know" that we love the children of God, when we "love God" and "keep His commandments"; but we must never go on in evil with our brethren. God's love is a perfect love; and our love to one another should be like His.
"That ye may approve things that are excellent." A quick sight and sense to take up what is excellent-a fine sense of spiritual discernment.
Refinement of spiritual sense is alone known by that heart who is walking with and in the Lord.
In passing through a world of evil, we ought to touch only those "things that are excellent," and thus seek to "walk worthy" and "without offense." "That ye may be sincere"-we fail most here; it is the last thing we attain: we are made up of deceit to God and to man.
Look back at a past day, and see what failure. But let there be full acknowledgment and confession, and the blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin; but there must be a true and hearty desire to turn away from everything that is insincere, that we may be " without offense till the day of Christ." We should earnestly seek to be no stumbling-block to others, causing no scandal, but exhibit Christ in our walk. If we thus closely tested our hearts, blessing would surely follow.
"Abound" in love,-approve things excellent, and be sincere and without offense till the Lord's return. Everything we do now should be with reference to that day when we shall be acknowledged openly by Him, and all so done will be gain to us as done to the Lord, and will have a future reward; all will be loss if we are walking in the flesh.
" Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.". Marvelous words! What condemnation to each -how are our fruits manifested? Are any of us filled • with the fruits of righteousness? A few may show forth a little fruit here and there; but no words can express more fullness even to excess than these. All fruit will be to the praise of God's glory and that by us! He gets glory by us! Oh, who would not desire to give it to Him? Every act goes back to Him and He remembers all! First, abound in love; second, approve things that are excellent; third, be filled with fruits to the glory and praise of God.