Philippians 1:9-11 (NIV) - “And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may 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.”

“The upshot is a prayer report in which Paul prays in part for the continuation of the very things for which he has just given thanks. Which should surprise us none, since both reports reflect the same basic theological framework - present existence in Christ as both “already” and “not yet.” This is where the ‘what’ and the ‘why’ join: Paul’s prayer for them is that they might live the life of the future in the present, so that they might thereby be blameless at its consummation on the day of Christ. The concern is with present life in Christ; the orientation is toward its consummation - that they live for Christ now, and do so in light of his coming Day” (Gordon Fee, Philippians, NICNT).

Prayer: Maranatha, Jesus!

-JK