Philippians 1:9–11 and the greatest of these is love

911…Love for God above ALL and love for His creation, our neighbors both near and far. Love is an action word. By our love for others we show our love for God and His salvation in the birth, death and resurrection of His beloved Son. While we were yet sinners He gave His life for us.

Holy Spirit is our ever present help in all seasons of life!

Acts 24:16 This being so, I myself always strive to have a conscience without offense toward God and men.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,

James 3:18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Meister Eckhart says that if you only learn one prayer in your whole life, learn this one: "Thank you.”

With presence, we are no longer waiting for our real life to begin.
This week, can we embrace the reality—even in a world heavy with pain—that the dance, the perseverance, the abundance, the light, the tenderness, the intimacy, the wholeheartedness, the spine-tingling elation of joy, comes to life in the tiny moments soaked in grace? Sabbath Moments 

Pure grace. Grace is God’s greatest idea. That he would treat us according to his heart and not ours. Amazing grace! Max Lucado

Philippians 1:9–11

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, 10 that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. The New King James Version

As Paul explains later, love (agapē) involves putting others before oneself. The knowledge that Paul has in mind is not just intellectual but experiential, acquired through acts of love. The Greek term used here, aisthēsis, refers to the ability to make decisions for the benefit of others. When the Philippians’ love abounds, they will be able to determine what is most valuable or beneficial to the community of believers. Sincere and without blame refers to being without fault. The fruit of righteousness refers to the natural results of belonging to Christ, whose death and resurrection bring righteousness to all who believe. Faithlife Study Bible

The love that Paul sought for the believers is the highest form of Christian love, based on a lasting, unconditional commitment, not on an unstable emotion. 

The first of two terms on which a directed love is built, knowledge suggests an intimate understanding based on a relationship with the person. Here the focus of this knowledge is God. Discernment, found only here in the New Testament, is the Greek word which means moral or ethical understanding based on both the intellect and the senses. The word implies perception or insight into social situations. 

That you may approve is the verb used in ancient literature for the testing of gold to determine its purity, and for trying oxen to assess their usefulness for the task at hand. 

The purpose of increasing in love, controlled by knowledge, is to be able to evaluate people and situations correctly,  pure, unmixed, and free from falsehood. 

Christ died to free the church from every blemish. Without offense uses still another graphic term to describe the Christian, Paul conveys the sense of not striking out at someone. Here the phrase means not leading others into sin by one’s own behavior. 

The goal ahead for the believer is the day of Christ in which the believer will stand for evaluation before the Savior, who is the faithful and true witness. 

Fuits of righteousness is best understood either as “fruit that results from being justified” or “fruit characterized by morally correct conduct.” The NKJV Study Bible

1 Corinthians 1:8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

Acts 22:12–16 our passion can be used for His good!

God can take our misguided zeal and passion and turn it for His good. 

Holy Spirit changes our perspectives and our beliefs into HIS Son’s.

However unworthy we feel... we are  His witnesses to others. The Good News is that He wants no one to live without Him.

When it comes to the Body of Christ we are all one, Jew and Gentile, edifying the Body  in love to bring forth fruit onto God.

Romans 4:7 “Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, And whose sins are covered; 8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall not impute sin.”

Acts 26:16 But rise and stand on your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to make you a minister and a witness both of the things which you have seen and of the things which I will yet reveal to you.

Scripture indicates that when we place our faith in Jesus, we are forgiven and clothed in Jesus' righteousness (Isaiah 61:10;  Romans 4:22-24). This means that when God sees us, He sees Jesus' righteousness, not our sin.

As God's beloved children, we are called to trust God's plan, walk in His good ways, and represent Him to the world (John 14:1;  Colossians 2:6-7). First5

I love Eleonora Duse’s affirmation, “If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things of nature have a message that you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” 

As long as our culture worships at the altar of bravado and swagger, we live disconnected. When we are afraid to be tiny, or humble or meek, we live paranoid and anxious.

…our wealth (our abundance--in relationships, wonder, gratitude, delight) comes when we live, or let spill, what is already inside of each of us—the tiny gifts soaked in grace. A smile, a tender or healing touch, a life-giving song, a listening ear, a gentle hand, a gesture of empathy, a kind word, a hand to lift someone up, a compassionate hug. The tiny gifts that do our heart good. The tiny gifts that make our world a better place. Sabbath Moments 

“Strong people don't put others down. They lift them up.” Michael P. Watson

Would you open your heart to this possibility? God is wooing you, pursuing you, romancing you. Refuse him if you wish. Ignore him if you desire. But he will not give up. Did he not promise to lead you home? And has he ever broken a promise? Not on your life. This is the message of God, the aggressive promise of grace. Trust it. Max Lucado

Acts 22:12–16

12 “Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, 13 came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. 14 Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. 15 For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16 And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’ The New King James Version

Since Ananias, an upstanding Jew, approved of Paul, then other Jews should not object. God of our fathers reinforces that the God who commissioned Paul is the God of Israel, Yahweh. The Just One title is used in the prophecy of the Suffering Servant in Isaiah 53:11, to refer to how the Suffering Servant makes others right before Yahweh by His death and resurrection. Witness matches Jesus’ original commission at the beginning of Acts. Faithlife Study Bible

The apostle goes on to relate how he was confirmed in the change he had made. The Lord having chosen the sinner, that he should know his will, he is humbled, enlightened, and brought to the knowledge of Christ and his blessed gospel. Christ is here called that Just One; for he is Jesus Christ the righteous. Those whom God has chosen to know his will, must look to Jesus, for by him God has made known his good-will to us. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 2:38 Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 9:17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified for Me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome.”

Acts 15:3–5 Grace!

There will always be those who want the Gospel of God’s grace in Jesus Christ to be the gospel of works. If that were so God would not have sent His Son into the world to die for our sins.

It is not about our goodness and good works but about HIS!!

Grace, unmerited and undeserved. God’s gift of salvation in Christ Jesus.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.
I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good-bye.

“I Wish You” poem, a gratitude shout out to poet, Bob Perks.) Sabbath Moments 

“He pre-destined us to be adopted by Himself as sons through Jesus Christ—such being His gracious will and pleasure” (Ephesians 1:5). God moved you into his family. He changed your name, your address, he gave you a seat at the dining table.

A young woman once approached me after hearing a sermon on forgiveness. She had battled much rejection in her young life.  On this day she felt something different. She said, “I’ve made a discovery. I’m not an exception to acceptance.”

Neither are you. For heaven’s sake, accept your acceptance. No more self-recrimination. No more self-accusation. No more self-condemnation. Make grace your permanent address. God has made a covenant to love you with an everlasting love, and He will keep it. God never gives up on you. Max Lucado

Acts 15:3–5

3 So, being sent on their way by the church, they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, describing the conversion of the Gentiles; and they caused great joy to all the brethren. 4 And when they had come to Jerusalem, they were received by the church and the apostles and the elders; and they reported all things that God had done with them. 5 But some of the sect of the Pharisees who believed rose up, saying, “It is necessary to circumcise them, and to command them to keep the law of Moses.” The New King James Version

Later those who taught the need for circumcision among new believers were known as Judaizers. They wanted the Christian faith to become a sect of Judaism. In other words, they wanted Gentile believers to become Jewish proselytes. As proselytes, the Gentile believers would need to be circumcised as a sign of coming into the covenant of God along with the Jews. 

These people believed in Jesus Christ but were still identified as Pharisees. Jews who became followers of Christ could still be Pharisees. The same could not be said for the Sadducees, for they denied that there was a resurrection, and thus could not believe that Jesus had been raised from the dead. 

It is necessary to circumcise them summarizes the problem. Is salvation granted through faith alone? Or does a person have to have faith plus the works of the law in order to be forgiven by God? The NKJV Study Bible

The apostles recount their first journey. God’s work clearly demonstrates He has opened the door to the Gentiles. Apparently several Pharisees had converted to Christianity. Paul, also a Pharisee, will not agree with their sentiments. Faithlife Study Bible

Some from Judea taught the Gentile converts at Antioch, that they could not be saved, unless they observed the whole ceremonial law as given by Moses; and thus they sought to destroy Christian liberty. There is a strange proneness in us to think that all do wrong who do not just as we do. Their doctrine was very discouraging. Wise and good men desire to avoid contests and disputes as far as they can; yet when false teachers oppose the main truths of the gospel, or bring in hurtful doctrines, we must not decline to oppose them. Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary

Acts 14:27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 15:12 Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

John 10:1-10 Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world but that through Him the world could be saved! Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd and no one comes to the Father except through Him. He did not leave us here unprotected but gave us Holy Spirit to guide and direct us and to get us safely home. We just need to listen to Him. We are all one as believers in the Body of Christ in the unity of Holy Spirit.

As our risen Savior Jesus sits at the right hand of the Father. He will return in glory and His Kingdom will have no end!! 

Praise be to God. It is finished!! 

John 10:16 And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.

Jesus explains in John 16 that although He is no longer physically present on earth, He has sent a Helper who is with us (John 16:7). When we receive God's Spirit through our faith in Jesus, He lives in our hearts, giving us the strength and power to obey the Father even under challenging circumstances.

Still, just because we believe in Jesus doesn't mean we automatically, immediately display the fruit of the Spirit. In the same way our muscles grow stronger through working out, our spiritual muscles grow as we work them out in everyday life. As we choose to act against our fleshly desires and cooperate with the Spirit in us, we mature and grow to look more like Jesus. First5

John 10:1-10

10 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. 5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” 6 Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. 7 Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. The New King James Version

In John 7, Jesus journeyed to Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. The events take place on that visit to Jerusalem. Chapters 9 and 10 are closely connected, suggesting that Jesus had the Pharisees of chapter 9 in mind when He spoke the opening words of chapter 10. 

A sheepfold was a walled enclosure or high fence made with stakes, and having one door or gate; often the enclosure was a cave. 

The Pharisees had secured their power by illegitimate means. A thief steals in secret; a robber plunders openly with violence. In contrast to the thief, the true shepherd would come through the door. The doorkeeper was the undershepherd. Calls expresses personal address rather than a general or authoritative invitation. The naming of sheep was an ancient practice. This was good practice for the undershepherd who has been given the charge of a portion of God’s flock. 

Brings out is a translation of the same Greek word used in 9:34, 35 of the Pharisees casting out the man born blind. The false shepherds put out the sheep to rid themselves of trouble. The true shepherd puts out the sheep in order to feed them. The sheep know the voice of the true shepherd. 

A stranger is anyone whom the sheep do not know, not necessarily a thief and a robber. Sheep would not follow a stranger’s voice even if he used the shepherd’s call and imitated his tone. Jesus is the shepherd; here He is the door. Some shepherds lay down across the entry of the sheepfold at night to sleep. Wild beasts would be discouraged from entering, and sheep would not exit. Thus the shepherd was also the door. 

The thieves and robbers were the Pharisees. 

Jesus, the shepherd, gives spiritual life and access to spiritual food. The thieves take life; the shepherd gives it. Abundant life includes salvation, nourishment, healing and much more. Life here refers to eternal life, God’s life. It speaks not only of endlessness, but of quality of life. With Christ, life on earth can reach much higher quality, and then in heaven it will be complete and perfect. The NKJV Study Bible

The fold of the sheep was a courtyard surrounded by a stone wall. If it had a gate, there was usually a gatekeeper guarding it who would know which shepherds had legitimate business there. Several families might use the same sheep pen. The point is that sheep follow the right shepherd. The audience misses the symbolism of the parable. 

Just as sheep recognize their shepherd and follow him, so those who truly belong to Jesus will recognize Him and follow Him. Jesus is the gateway for eternal life as well as the one who leads the sheep.Faithlife Study Bible

John 10:4 And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

John 10:5 Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.”

John 10:14 I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own.

John 10:27 My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.