Psalm 31:1-4

My Shepherd met me in His green pastures and laid me down in Philippians. 1:9-11 stirred the spirit of my mind into communion with the Mind of the Spirit:

Philippians 1:9 ¶ And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

Philippians 1:10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ;

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Intrigued, I found it interesting that the Spirit includes knowledge and judgment in His description of abounding love. Furthermore, that abounding in love would be manifested in “approving things that are excellent,” and result in being “sincere and without offence till the day of Christ” (Philippians 1:9-10). Indeed, love abounding in knowledge and judgment produces the fruits of righteousness, which are produced by Christ in us, and this to the glory and praise of GOD (Philippians 1:11).

Along the still waters, I reflected on the fact that our love “may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment.”

The world lieth in wickedness (1 John 5:19), and we are commanded: “Love not the world” (1 John 2:15). Many are simple and love superficial vanities (Proverbs 1:22). And the world is characterized by scorning and foolishness: these hate knowledge (Proverbs 1:22-29). Love abounds in knowledge, and knowledge instructs judgment. This equips us to exercise discernment to distinguish what is nonsense, pride, and foolishness, from what is excellent.

The Spirit has been sent into the world through believers to reprove the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 7:38-39; 16:7-13).

Sinners who hate the light of truth certainly do not see judgment as loving. But that is because those who lie with the world in wickedness, and refuse the command to repent and believe on Christ (Acts 17:30; 1 John 3:23; see Acts 20:21), do not rise out of their “sick bed” (Mark 2:9-11) and walk toward the light of the glorious gospel (2 Corinthians 4:4), and so do not live in the love of GOD in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39; 2 Corinthians 13:14). The do not choose what is excellent. They choose what is evil!

In the valley, Jesus set His choice before me: the world or the Word.  Will I lie down with the wicked in the world, or walk in the righteousness of His Word?  I choose to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6). Immediately, my Shepherd spoke: “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me” (Luke 9:23).

At the table, my Shepherd anointed my head with His oil and filled my cup with His grace. Goodness and mercy hurried to my chair, I rose, they posted themselves behind me, and we walked together into the harvest, following the steps of my Shepherd (1 Peter 2:21).

Praying for revival! 🙏

Traveling today, so I can’t post the Shepherd’s Pasture link. I’ll post the text now, but the livestream link when time permits.