2-26-21    THOUGHTS

Php 1:10    so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ;

The above verse is interesting and most needful for our success in this life.  Our ABILITY to
“APPROVE THE THINGS THAT ARE EXCELLENT” is life-giving and life-sustaining.
Isa 7:14-15    "Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign [this a prophecy of John the baptizer]:  Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. 15  "He will eat curds and honey at the time He knows enough to refuse evil and choose good. 16  "For before the boy will know enough to refuse evil and choose good, the land whose two kings you dread will be forsaken.
The above connects the “ability to approve the excellent” with “GOOD AND EVIL” and with DISCIPLINE!.  
Amos 5:14-15    Seek good and not evil, that you may live; And thus may the LORD God of hosts be with you, Just as you have said!  15  Hate evil, love good, And establish justice in the gate! Perhaps the LORD God of hosts May be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
 Let me try to connect the “approval of the excellent”  with Rom 2:17-24.  I note that the approval of the excellent was “in order to be SINCERE”!
Many of the leader Jews in Jesus time were boastful arrogant Hypocrites.  Read Matthew 23.  
The indictment begins in verse 21 below.  These were not SINCERE.  
Rom 2:17-24.    But if you bear the name "Jew" and rely upon the Law and boast in God, 18  and know His will and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, 19  and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, 20  a corrector of the foolish, a teacher of the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth, 21  you, therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one shall not steal, do you steal? 22  You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? 23  You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God? 24  For "THE NAME OF GOD IS BLASPHEMED AMONG THE GENTILES BECAUSE OF YOU," just as it is written.
One of the definitions of SINCERE is “found pure when unfolded and examined by the sun’s light”!   The world that we live in, should never blaspheme the name of God because of our hypocrisy!
Php 1:9-11 [a larger context]   And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, 10  so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; 11  having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

My Prayer:
Lord help us to be real before you.  Keep us from fooling ourselves. May we know the true right.  Teach us to approve the excellent.  Fill us with the fruit of righteousness.   In Jesus, Amen