To the Glory and Praise of God
What is the ultimate purpose of all things? And why is it Paul prays for the things he does when he prays for the Philippians?
Wrapping up Paul’s opening prayer for the Philippians we come across that last phrase of verse 11, the last seven words:
Philippians 1:11b ESV - to the glory and praise of God.
This is the focus of our entire redemption. This is the reason for all God does. This is why we say that God has chosen to glorify himself most in that work of redemption. And this is why we say that our salvation is all of grace. This line…
to the glory and praise of God.
…looks forward to Paul's words in chapter 2. We are to be shining lights of God's glory and grace in this world, a light of righteousness in dark places, a city set on a hill, a lamp in this present darkness.
Listen to those words from Philippians 2 as a preview of things to come. He says,
Philippians 2:14-16 ESV - Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
You see how this opening prayer in verses 9-11 anticipates so much of what Paul is going to be teaching in the following chapters in this letter? Every part of this introduction, and especially this prayer, are anticipatory in that sense.
And the focus of the prayer is on Christ and his kingdom, and our being prepared for it in its fullness. The nature of that kingdom, of course, is love. Take a little time this morning to reflect on the fact that God has called us into his kingdom, which is a community or fellowship of committed believers (a redundancy) and that we are as committed to each other as we are to the cause, because in a sense the community is the cause. Then reflect on the fact that the ultimate purpose of it all is God’s glory.
As Christians it is imperative that we belong to a local body, a local congregation, and that we should pray for each other. The substance of our prayers should be about the furtherance of the kingdom of Christ both within us and through us, and that that kingdom is a kingdom characterized by love. When we pray for each other this way, then no matter what takes place, no matter what happens to us in this life, we will be ready against the day when Christ comes to take us home. Paul's prayer teaches us not only how we should pray, but what the focus of our lives should be, and that focus is Christ, and what brings him most glory.
John 15:12 ESV - “This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.
Philippians 1:9-11 - 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.