Philippians 1:9-11 “I pray that your love will overflow more and more, and that you will keep on growing in knowledge and understanding. For I want you to understand what really matters, so that you may live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return. May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation—the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ—for this will bring much glory and praise to God.”

Discipleship is all about developing righteous character. Before Christ came into your life, your character had been shaped in large part by the world and those closest to you in it. Character is not limited to specific areas of your life but rather stretches across it all. It has a profound effect on all of your relationships (including family, friends, personal), your job, and even your worship and spiritual growth. As we grow in knowledge and understanding, our character changes. Living a ‘pure and blameless’ life requires living a life motivated by the love of God. That is what it means to understand what really matters. What really matters is how we relate to those around us and not how big a reputation we can develop, how much stuff we can accumulate, or how high up the ladder of life we can climb. This is evident when we realize the “fruit” of our salvation. What is that fruit? For God so LOVED the world. That is what our salvation is born out of. That is the fruit of which the Apostle Paul speaks. That is what forms righteous character. Living a life motivated by love will bring glory and praise to our Heavenly Father.

Pray: “Dear God, I want to develop a righteous character. It is only in that way my life will bring honor and praise to you. Teach me to be motivated by love in all I do, just as you were in saving me. In Jesus name I pray – Amen.”