Prayer for Love

And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ (Philippians 1:9-10).

There are at least two purposes for this prayer. The first is a near purpose: to discern what is best; and the second is a more remote one: to be pure (sincere) and blameless (without offense) until the day of Christ. “To discern” in this phrase gives us the idea of testing. The testing is with a view to approving towards excellence. The word was used in testing metals and coins, to determine whether they met the specified standards.

The word the New King James version uses as “sincere” is the translation of a Greek word used only here and in 2 Peter 3:1. It is also often translated in some versions as “pure.” It originally derives from the words for “sun” and “to judge,” thus indicating a purity that is tested by the light of the sun. Paul wanted his readers to be rightly related to God and in fellowship with Him. Paul also was concerned that their relationships with others would become what God would have them to be. The Greek word that is translated “without offense,” or blameless, also appears in 1 Corinthians 10:32 where the same writer urged, “Give no offense” to anyone. Paul’s desire for his friends at Philippi ought to be the concern of all believers; to be morally pure, and not causing others to stumble, especially those who are brothers and sisters in Christ.

Unless otherwise noted, Scripture taken from the New King James Version®, NKJV © 1982 by Thomas Nelson.
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