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THE PRIZE OF THE HIGH CALLING
discrimination, a `trying of things that differ' that can be offensive and cause stumbling, but both Philippians 1 and
Romans 14 link the true discrimination with two great governing influences.
(1) The originating cause `love' `abounding love' in Philippians 1:9, and `walking in love' in Romans 14:15.
(2) The Day of Christ. `We shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ' (Rom. 14:10), and `till the day of
Christ' (Phil. 1:10).
The Jew is represented as approving `the things that are more excellent' (Rom. 2:18) where the same words are
used as are found in Philippians 1:10, but in the second chapter of Romans it is manifest that such discrimination did
not proceed from abounding love. It arose rather out of abounding pride, and instead of being tempered by the
consciousness that the motives that prompted this discrimination must be brought to the trial of the judgment seat of
Christ, they were exercised by those who believed that there was a respect of persons with God, and that they would
`escape the judgment of God'. From all such harmful manifestation of the flesh the apostle prayed that the
Philippians should be spared.
The last clause of this prayer is suggestive `being filled with the fruits of righteousness' (Phil. 1:11). The apostle
looked for fruit, both in himself and in others (Phil. 1:22; 4:17), and `by the fruits' would the believer's walk and
work be recognized.
`The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace' (Jas. 3:18).
The prayers that lie at the opening of these great prison epistles, are directed particularly to the theme and
purpose of the epistle in question.
In Ephesians, which opens up the glory and grace of the new dispensation, a spirit of wisdom and revelation in
the acknowledgment of Him, is sought in order that they may know what is the hope of His calling. In Colossians,
wisdom and spiritual understanding are sought, that they might walk worthy, and that they might increase by the
acknowledgment of God. In Philippians, where the theme is the practical outworking of the truth, and service in
view of the prize, the prayer concentrates upon the faculty of discrimination, abounding love and the day of Christ.
As members of this high calling, we need these three prayers continually. We need to know, we need to discern,
we need to walk worthy. May an abundant answer be granted to us all `until the day of Christ'.
`A mind at leisure from itself'
A very gracious characteristic of the apostle Paul is, that after he has made some claim upon the believer, some
exhortation to high faith, great endurance, or self effacing love, he follows such exhortation with a reference to his
own example. This reference to himself does not intrude, it flows naturally in the course of his writing and is so
evidently a part of himself that he is entirely free from any suspicion of pose. In his prayer which we have just been
studying he directed the Philippians' thoughts to the day of Christ, suggesting that with that day in view mean and
unedifying things would fade and die, and abounding love produce the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus
Christ unto the glory and praise of God (Phil. 1:9-11). The new section occupies verses 12-18, and balances the
section which occupies verses 6-8; both sections can be headed with the word `confidence' which occurs in each.
In this new passage, the selfless, Christ exalting nature of this man in bondage is manifested, revealing how it is
possible by grace to rise above all the circumstances of this life and realize to the full the fact that we are `more than
conquerors' through Him that loved us.
This man of God was about to refer to `the things which had happened' unto him. He was going to speak of `his
bonds', and of the very grievous fact that some by their factious preaching were intentionally adding to his affliction.
How was all this variety of circumstance and pressure met by him? He says that the things that had happened unto
him had fallen out rather `unto the furtherance of the gospel'. His bonds he calls his `bonds in Christ', and the only
reply he makes to the sad attitude of those who preached Christ out of envy and strife was `what then?
notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence or in truth, CHRIST IS PREACHED; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and
will rejoice' (Phil. 1:18).