“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more
in knowledge and in all judgment.”
(Philippians 1:9)
Wisdom is a wonderful quality to possess. The ability to discern, to see beyond the obvious, to weigh a matter thoroughly so you can make good, sound judgments should be the desire of any mature person. How much more, then, should children of God seek to “…abound more and more in all knowledge and judgment, that you may discern things which differ,” (Phil. 1:9).
This desire will be a defining characteristic of a Christian who is wise and good, who weighs his words and actions well. As David says in Psalm 112:5, “A good man will guide his affairs with discretion.”
Further, if we pursue “real knowledge” – the kind that comes from God through His Word – we can expect to reap lasting rewards. Paul details how this level of spiritual maturity affects our walk with God in Philippians 1:9-11: “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; having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.”
As believers, how do we become skilled in discernment? The writer of Hebrews tells us: “But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil,” (Heb. 5:14). We learn to discern by first filling our minds with the Word of truth, and then honing that skill through rigorous and constant practice.
God puts us in difficult situations every day, situations that require us to confront complexities that push us beyond our comfortable understanding of right and wrong, black and white, good and bad. We’re often left feeling confused, lost, and clueless. Rather than see these times as points of frustration, however, remind yourself that they are opportunities to practice discernment.
When you find yourself faced with challenges and choices that are not black and white, search the Scriptures to gain understanding and seek wisdom and direction from God (James 1:5). Practice listening for God’s leading, seek to apply sound, godly wisdom to the situation, and trust that God will lead you to make the best decision.
All the while, keep in mind that the more knowledge you have of Scripture, the better able you will be to discern differences and approve of the more excellent choice. As John Brinsley said, “Get your hearts steadied with sound judgment and true Christian discretion. This will be a means to keep you steady, so as you will not be “tossed to and fro,” nor “Carried about with every wind of doctrine,” (Ephesians 4:14),” that you may be “filled with the fruits of righteousness” and live to adore God all your days.
- Lord, please help me hold steadfast to Your truth. There are so many winds of thought and opinion that blow here and there, that if I am not grounded in Your truth I could lose my footing. I pray that You will hold me steadfast by Your Spirit, and that Christ will guide me in all I do. Let me not make shipwreck of that faith which I have embraced and professed, and without which I would be in eternal danger.
- Lord, what can I do to have a zealous heart after Your Word? My heart can be as cold as stone sometimes, dead and cold. Make me zealous for Your truth, that I may have a truly discerning heart and fervency to abound in knowledge of You.
- Father, may my zeal for truth be guided by the light of Scripture. Apollos was “a man instructed in the way of the Lord, and fervent in spirit,” (Acts 18:25). The Apostle Paul prayed for the Philippians, that, “their love, might abound more and more, in knowledge and in all judgment,” (Phil. 1:9). The greater my zeal, the more I need to keep it within the bounds of truth, which must be set by godly wisdom and understanding. Lord, help me exercise prudence and discretion in all I do as I live before You daily.
Further References for Phil. 1:9
1 Thess. 3:12; Col. 1:9; 2 Thess. 1:3; 1 Thess. 4:9; 2 Cor. 8:7
