Approving What is Excellent

     I think that those of us who are in leadership often find ourselves occupied with what needs to be corrected in the church. Our default line of thinking tends to be “Thou shalt not”. The fact that most of the 10 commandments are put in this negative mode is an indicator of the sinful direction of our hearts that God wisely addresses in this way. But, as Jesus taught in the Sermon on the Mount, there is a lot more going on in the commandments than providing a list of do’s and don’ts.

     We would do well to hear the spirit and appeal that is often found in many of Paul’s letters to the churches which are full of encouragement and commendation along with the needed correction. It is not a matter of doing one or the other, but a matter of helpful balance.

     For example, in Philippians Paul introduces the letter that will deal with what he calls “dogs” and “evildoers”, “enemies of the cross”, as well as Christians like Euodia and Syntyche who need to learn to agree in the Lord (Philip 3:2,18; 4:2). And he does so with this very positive exhortation:

     And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Philippians 1:9-10)

     Notice that Paul is praying for these people, which shapes his own heart for their spiritual progress, and lays hold of the grace of God to work in ways in their lives that he cannot do from the limitations of his prison cell.

     He also acknowledges their progress, and commends them for their love, knowledge and discernment, even as he encourages them to pursue these things more and more.

     Paul is no mere moralist or motivator. He grounds his appeal in the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. Our hope is not in trying harder to be better, but in trusting Christ more deeply so that the fruit of his Spirit may be reproduced in our life.

     For Paul, as for all of us, life's challenges must be faced with a clear eye to the glory and praise of God. When God’s glory is our focus, and his praise is the song of our heart, then we can face life in a fallen world with the joy and expectation in Christ.